Brussels, 11/03/2003 (Agence Europe) - A survey carried out last year by DG Agriculture at the European Commission and recently published, examines the attitude of citizens in candidate countries to EU accession and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). According to the survey, 88% of them place food safety as a priority, as well as support for rural areas. The majority of those interviewed hope that the CAP will help farmers, consumers, the food industry and the environment. European Commissioner for Agriculture, Franz Fischler welcomed the results of the study and declared that citizens had expressed their concerns about respect for the environment an support for a dynamic rural economy and their worries had subsequently been taken into account in the proposals for CAP reform presented by the Commission last January. Although a majority of future EU citizens largely support the CAP, the Eurobarometer study illustrates that there is, however, a glaring lack of information in these countries.
For more information: http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/survey/cc/index_en.htm ).