Brussels, 28/03/2002 (Agence Europe) - The adoption on 21 March of Lutz Ribbe (Various Interests, Germany) and Paul Geraards's, co-rapporteur (Employers Group, Netherlands) opinion of the future of the Common Agricultural Policy, the European Social Committee will be assessing the changes in agricultural policy over the last ten years and examine the demands made on multifunctional agriculture, which the EU is promoting.
The ESC believes that the following should be considered: a multi-tiered and varied system of direct payments is feasible for farmers who produce to harmonised European environmental standards; if the first pillar of the CAP could be enhanced with new forms of support which enable each Member State to strengthen its support for those farms which accept additional commitments with regard to quality improvement, environmental protection and the safeguarding of jobs. On the question of the 2 Pillar of the CAP, the ESC considers that it is crucial that rural areas can develop Structural Funds measures. On the question of market organisation and supply-side management, the ESC thinks this must be conducted into the impact of the abolition of milk quotas and other quota systems on regional economies.