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France, Germany Propose to Reform Common Agriculture Policy
France and Germany have agreed that the European Union (EU)'s common agricultural policy (CAP) should be restructured to be more environment-friendly and focus more on food security, said a joint statement released Monday by French Agriculture Ministry.
"France and Germany have decided to apply the modulation of subsidies at national level. We wish to go further to make obligatory at European level a mechanism of modulation or degressive subsidies," said the statement.
The proposal, issued following month-long talks between French Agriculture Minister Jean Glavany and his German counterpart Renate Kuenast, will be submitted to debates in the European Commission and among EU member nations.
Glavany and Kuenast notably propose that CAP, which currently links market to production and thus favors large enterprises, be reoriented towards environment, rural development and extensive agriculture.
They also agreed to encourage "greener" agriculture and bio- oriented farms. As to conventional agriculture, "production standards should be improved concerning environmental quality and protection of animals," they said.
"The CAP should have a priority to produce in a better way, not to produce more," said the statement.
The idea of reforming the CAP started as Europe was hit by the outbreak of mad cow and foot-and-mouth diseases, which made governments doubt whether their policy that encourages intensive agriculture had failed.
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