Brussels, 09/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - In its contribution to the debate on the reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP), the European Confederation of Maize Production (CEPM) highlights, in a press release, the importance of “production agriculture in order to contribute to the global food balance”.
This, the organisation says, means having an agricultural budget growing incrementally with a dominant first pillar based, as a priority, on direct payments. Bringing consistency of direct aid among member states must be done over time in order to take account of objective economic differences and differences in current support between member states, the CEPM says.
It goes on to say that, with regard to the “greening” of the CAP, the rules put in place must, firstly, not prove to be obstacles to productivity. Thus, it argues, taking account of public goods and environmental services that form part of the first pillar of the CAP might depend on GAEC (good agricultural and environmental conditions) and on remunerated additional measures selected by farmers from a European list.
The CEPM is against any new concessions being made on maize in the trade negotiations taking place with Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay). It notes that, within the European Union, existing instruments to help achieve the objectives of productivity, quality and competitiveness have to be freely available. This means, in particular, GMOs, plant health protection products and irrigation. (L.C./transl.rt)