Brussels, 04/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission announced on Friday 4 June that the public debate on the future of the common agricultural policy (CAP) had been extended by one week, until June 11, at the request of stakeholders and in order to gather as many contributions as possible (more than 3,700 responses have been received since the debate was launched on 12 April). The Commission is asking for responses to the following questions: Why do we need a CAP? What do citizens expect from agriculture? Why reform the CAP? What tools do we need for the CAP of tomorrow? External experts will prepare an analysis of the responses, and will present them at a major conference in Brussels on 19-20 July.
The Enlarged Advisory Group on the CAP post-2013, a body made up of representatives of the agricultural organisations, the industry and consumers, met in Brussels on 3 June. From their discussions, there was overall agreement that the policy should remain common and for the two pillar structure (market expenditure aid and rural development) to be maintained. Discussions revolved inter alia around: - how to combine the various CAP instruments to support farmers' income, address market volatility and ensure food security with its role in tackling climate change and providing environmental public goods; - how to improve the balance in the food chain with further price transparency and improved labelling; - how to contribute to territorial balance, among other things, by creating employment in rural areas; - the need to increase investment and innovation. (L.C./transl.rt)