01/12/2010 (Agence Europe) - COPA wants strong first pillar to be maintained. At a meeting with the Belgian Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers on 29 November, EU agricultural unions and cooperatives (Copa-Cogeca) “urged” European ministers “to maintain a strong first pillar” in the new common agricultural policy (CAP). “We welcome EU Farm Commissioner Dacian Cioloº' desire to have a strong CAP after 2013.” However, the new Commission proposal for compulsory “greening” of the CAP could only be considered “if there were to be an increase in the current CAP budget,” said Copa President Padraig Walshe. (L.C./transl.rt)