Agricultural policy for the future: a synthesis of competinq concerns

CAP reform, competitiveness and sustainability

“…The concern here is not the mechanics of the proposed reform but the compatibility of the objectives. In an article published shortly before publication of the Commission's proposed legislative changes, Franz Fischler4 explained that his reforms would help the EU agricultural industry become internationally competitive. He also explained that the proposed transfer of support prices and payments to area payments decoupled from any specific production would reduce the ecological demands associated with modern farming.…”

“…Understandably Franz Fischler,4 in presenting his reform proposals for the CAP, has emphasised their positive aspects and in particular the benefits for sustainability he hopes will follow their adoption. But CAP reform is as much, if not more, a response to external events as to a desire to change the basis of farm support.…”

“…Globalisation is a process driven, in large measure, by technology and economic liberalisation, and the implications for farming and food chains do not yet seem to be fully appreciated by policy makers and industry participants. Or to be more correct, there appears to be a belief that the EU can unilaterally determine how much it will be subject to the forces of globalisation 4. The essence of globalisation is the increasing integration of domestic and international markets, and it is debatable as to what extent the EU can, or should, attempt to frustrate this process of global integration.…”

“…The Council had also agreed a tight ceiling for CAP expenditure and hence the Mid‐Term Review had officially become a reform of the CAP. But in introducing his proposals for CAP reform, Franz Fischler4 played down the external forces of enlargement and multilateral trade negotiations, stressing instead the need to refocus farm support away from production towards environmental outputs as a means of securing a profitable and sustainable farming industry.…”