Brussels, 26/05/2000 (Agence Europe) - With a view to the informal meeting of Agriculture Ministers early next week in Evora (Portugal), the Portuguese Presidency has prepared a working paper on the challenge for European agriculture of combining quality and diversity.
This paper states that aid paid within the framework of the common organisation of markets is continuing to soak up most of the resources of the common agriculture policy and creating great disparity between sectors, producers and regions, favouring those that would already be more competitive without aid. It argues for further reform of the CAP to reduce the relative weight of aid paid under the common organisation of markets (COM) to the advantage of rural development measures, which would help restore balance. It also states that considerable progress still needs to be made in giving consideration to the demands and preferences of the public as both consumers and taxpayers. In this context, the Presidency discusses the necessity of further intervention by environmental and consumer groups in the development, follow-up and assessment of European policies. To safeguard consumer confidence, stricter application of minimum food safety standards is essential in the EU, states the paper, which also observes that the position adopted by the EU in the WTO negotiations requires a better definition of the European agricultural model and is an incentive to opt for policies based more directly on the different facets of multifunctionality. The document also argues in favour of adoption of a Community system of agri-environmental indicators.
After a lengthy chapter on product quality, the Presidency discusses the specifics of a common policy confronted with problems, perceptions and preferences that vary tremendously from one region to the next. It points out in this connection that regions practising intensive farming are highly polluted as a result of agriculture, while others are experiencing growing economic marginalisation, the loss of traditional landscapes and other problems such as major forest fires. The way environmental and food problems are addressed also depends in large measure on public perceptions and attitudes. In some cases, more natural landscapes are preferred over man-made ones, or regional gastronomy over outdoor activities or products resulting from a specific production method. The Presidency therefore notes that subsidiarity must come into play and that the key idea is to adapt policies more appropriately to the problems and needs of each Member State or region and to ensure greater territorial integration of different policy instruments. The document raises a number of questions: - At what level should there be a definition of the minimum the public has a right to expect from farmers in terms of both the environment and food safety? - How can there be effective follow-up of the impact of policies throughout Community territory? - How can the efficacy of the common policy be guaranteed even when it is applied in decentralised fashion? - How can the EU reconcile implementation of the principles of additionality and solidarity in Community intervention so as to ensure fairer sharing of the costs linked to compliance with environmental and food safety standards? - How can the contribution of products with a designation of origin (protected designation of origin, protected geographical ascription and organic products) to the EU's agricultural and rural development be further consolidated?
This paper is meant to nurture reflection and debate by the Agriculture Ministers, who will be arriving in Evora on Sunday. The informal Agriculture Council sitting will be held on Tuesday morning. Ministers are also expected to address the issue of GMOs.