Brussels, 15/11/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 15 November, Stéphane Le Foll, French Agriculture Minister, hailed the positive response given by Dacian Ciolos, European Agriculture Commissioner, to France's request to allow first hectares to have an additional premium.
The possibility given to each state to set in place an extra premium for the first hectares is, the French minister says (our translation), a “strong signal along the lines of convergence allowing account to be taken in CAP of the diverse nature of French and European agriculture, and allowing employment to be maintained”. In France, the rate of employment in agriculture is the highest in the first hectares farmed. Throughout the negotiation process on CAP reform, France will remain vigilant regarding the setting in place of additional support for the first hectares, thus allowing freedom from historical references and ensuring a fairer distribution of direct aid. (LC/transl.jl)