Fischer Boel reassures on CAP health check

Published on Monday 19 May 2008 21:45

TODAY farmers across the European Union should get some idea of how the Common Agricultural Policy is set to be modified, following a "health check" initiated by the agricultural commissioner, Mariann Fischer Boel.

Fischer Boel, who is the wife of a Danish farmer, has made it clear for some time that she wants to see support switched from direct subsidies linked with production, to support for environmental measures. This was the basic thrust of the last major reforms of the CAP, which took effect in 2005.

In a statement yesterday Fischer Boel was short on detail, but the basis of her proposals was clear. She said:

"The recent hike in food prices has put the CAP back in the spotlight and raised concerns about whether it is on the right track. The timing is ideal, since the need to pursue the objectives of the health check could hardly be more pressing than it is today."

Much of what will be announced in Brussels today will come as no surprise in the wake of a succession of leaks.

Compulsory set-aside, the regime that forced arable farmers to take up to 10 per cent of their land out of food production, will be abolished. In a similar fashion the European Commission will signal the progressive winding down of milk quotas. In the UK this ceiling was set at 14 billion litres a year – which the dairy industry has failed to come close to in recent years.

There has been a degree of nervousness in Scotland that the health check could have major implications for the industry, especially since 80 per cent of the land mass is technically described as "disadvantaged".

However, it would appear that Fischer Boel has taken consideration on this and will not allow farmers operating on poorer land to be left at the mercy of crude market forces. It is thought that the fine details will come as good news to farming business in Scotland, the Irish Republic and other parts of the EU which have to endure many climatic and topographical problems.

Fischer Boel said: "Some people have been concerned that I have a secret plan to fully unleash market forces at the expense of the environment and that those farmers who are not in a place to embrace new market opportunities will lose out. The health check proposals are vibrant proof that nothing could be further from the truth.

"The CAP is still the right tool to provide the right level of support to farmers in times of crisis and to sectors with special problems, such as farmers producing milk in disadvantaged regions.

"However, regardless of what protection we offer to farmers, it is paramount to me that the measures act like a safety net and not a comfortable chair."