Brussels, 30/09/2011 (Agence Europe) - Almost one European in two supports European Commission proposals to cap direct payments to farmers. That is the finding of the latest Eurobarometer study on the common agricultural policy (CAP) that was published on Friday 30 September. The poll reveals, too, that there is general support for other parts of the legislative proposals on CAP reform - such as the “greening” of some aid, support for small farms and labelling of local and mountain products - to be adopted by the Commission on 12 October.
Of those responding, 47% believe that limiting the amount farmers can receive in direct payments is a good thing because large farms do not need unlimited subsidies. More than a quarter of respondents (28%) believe such a limit to be a bad thing. Support for capping is most marked in Cyprus, where 70% thought it was a good idea, followed by Denmark (66%) and Finland (63%). The opposite view, that aid limits would be a bad thing, was most commonly recorded in Malta (45%) and Belgium (41%).
The survey also reveals that: (1) 44% of European citizens believe that direct payments to farmers should be focused on environmental initiatives throughout the EU: this view was commonly expressed in Denmark (69%), Cyprus (65%) and Sweden (60%); (2) 55% of respondents fully agree that the EU should encourage local markets and distribution networks to make it easier to buy local agricultural produce and food products; (3) almost two thirds of those surveyed (65%) agree that there are benefits in buying products originating in mountain areas; (4) a clear majority of respondents (62%) believe that the names of those who receive aid and the amounts they receive should be matters of public record accessible to all. (LC/transl.rt)