Brussels, 04/03/2005 (Agence Europe) - A Eurobarometer opinion poll published on Wednesday by the European Commission reveals that 66% of EU25 citizens welcome recent changes in the Common Agricultural Policy (less direct aid and more funding for environmental protection and rural development). The poll was carried out between 22 November and 19 December 2004 among 25000 people from all 25 EU Member States.
Citizens of Poland are happiest with the changes to the CAP, 77%, followed by Luxembourg (76%), the United Kingdom (73%), Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands (71% in each country). The countries where citizens were less in favour include Portugal (only 52%), Italy (54%), Greece (54%), Austria (55%), Denmark (55%) and Spain (56%). Compared with a similar poll at the end of 2003, more citizens in the EU15 now favour the CAP changes, particularly in France (+9%), Luxembourg and Sweden (both +8%), Germany (+7%) and the United Kingdom (+6%).
Does the CAP fulfil its role well? Most citizens think so, particularly for the following tasks: ensuring safe and risk-free farm products (57% of Europeans believe the CAP fulfils its role well in this area, with 26% thinking it fulfils its role badly), promoting respect for the environment (55% yes, 28% no), making farming more competitive on world markets (48% yes, 30% no), promoting organic farming and protecting animal welfare (47%). Only a minority of Europeans believe the CAP plays a good role in protecting small farms (barely 30%), reducing the development gap between regions (37%) and in ensuring stable income for farmers (37%).
What are the CAP's main priorities? 36% of those polled said 'ensuring sufficient and stable farm income', well ahead of the other priorities: ensuring farm products are safe and healthy (30 %), promoting respect for the environment (28%), or “improving life in the countryside” (26%).
The poll also looked at the CAP's main food benefits: safe food (35%), good quality products (33%), sufficient information about the geographical origin of food (29%), and healthy food (26%). The full report can be accessed at: http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/survey/index_fr.htm