Tag: farm subsidies

The European Commission's long-awaited proposals to overhaul the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) have left most EU politicians and stakeholders disappointed.

Farmers in Western countries such as France could see their subsidies cut by up to 7% as more money is being channeled to Central and Eastern European states. EU farm Commissioner Dacian Cioloş spoke to EurActiv in an exclusive interview ahead of proposals today to reform the EU's Common Agricultural policy for 2014-2020.

The European Commission yesterday (18 November) unveiled its blueprint for reforming the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), proposing to increase subsidies to smaller East European farmers and to link direct payments to environmental and food security goals.

The EU should force other world agricultural powers to adopt similar environmental rules if they wish to export to Europe, the chair of the European Parliament's agriculture committee, Paolo De Castro, told EurActiv in an interview.

Almost a month of protests culminated yesterday (21 August), when Bulgarian milk producers set up roadblocks in retaliation for the loss of millions of euros of EU subsidies following last month's decision by the European Commission to punish Sofia for its failure to fight corruption and organised crime.

India and Brazil have slammed the door on negotiations with the EU and the US at a 'G4' meeting in Postdam, Germany, increasing the likelihood of a total breakdown in efforts to conclude an international trade pact that experts say would add billions to the global economy. 

The planned review of the EU’s agricultural policy in 2008 could lead to lower ceilings for farm subsidies after data show that EU funds mainly benefit big businesses.

France has failed to limit the mandate of EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson at the Hong Kong WTO ministerial summit. Germany has joined the UK in its efforts to cut down EU farm aid.