You do have to wonder where on Earth, or even in the EU, the CAP gets a good press. Here is a round-up of UK views:
IEEP – Environment undermined in CAP deal
CAPreform.eu – a damp squib for CAP reform which does nothing to shift towards ‘public money for public goods’
The Wildlife Trusts – Paul Wilkinson, Head of Living Landscape said: Unfortunately Member States and MEPs have failed to grasp an historic opportunity to green agriculture across the European Union. This deal is bad news for Europe’s natural heritage – it means no ‘greening’ whatsoever across a significant percentage of Europe’s agricultural landscape. This poor outcome makes a mockery of the principle of the greening of European agriculture for wildlife and sustainable farming.
RSPB – the deal struck is ‘likely to be disastrous for wildlife and the environment, and it is a poor use of precious public funding. The final deal has favoured vested interests and let down many of Europe’s most progressive farmers who have been working hard to make space for nature and the environment while producing food.’ and ‘One of the most high profile aspects of this reform round was the introduction of new environmental requirements attached to direct payments – so called “greening“. However, these measures have been drastically watered down by Agriculture Ministers, and MEPs on the Agriculture Committee.‘ and ‘Greening had real potential to secure much-needed space for nature across Europe’s farmland, but the final deal has been emptied of real environmental value: it is hard to see how this reform will help the recovery of the 300 million farmland birds we have lost across Europe since 1980.‘. And see Martin Harper’s (always well worth reading) blog.
WWF – environment in danger because of EU agriculture deal.
FoE – the EU’s new agriculture policy is a disaster for the environment, small farmers and developing countries
CLA – after the deal the CLA decided to change its position on modulation (switching money from hand-outs to environmental payments) worrying that some of the largest farmers in Europe would lose out!
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Isn’t it extraordinary that the £3.5 billion spent on CAP has not been cut by a penny nor is there any real discussion about this huge sum of money ? That, of course, is because it is ‘European’ money (no bad thing – so is LIFE money and if Europe protects it from the UK Government that has to be good) – but don’t forget it is ‘co-funded’ – meaning 1/2 this huge sum comes straight from the Treasury. I’ve been watching comments on Europe in recent months and a fascinating pattern emerges – everyone dislikes Europe, except there is always one little area where Europe is actually doing rather well – and that is usually the little corner funding the writers particular interest ! That applies to conservation – but, to be fair, whilst conservation rightly attacks CAP it is generally at the most positive end on Europe, fully recognising the huge value of the EU Directives to wildlife. But for me the most wonderfully bizarre revelation is that the deputy chairman of UKIP is taking home a cool £55,000 a year in CAP payments – there’s quite a few of us who’d see that as a very reasonable living wage on its own ! That, no doubt, is the little corner of Europe he’ll be lobbying to preserve !
And our Government ? Did you pick up David Cameron’s thoughts on CAP – which extended just as far as opposing the proposed limit to maximum payment per ownership, to start to reduce the rich getting richer problem – he was opposed because it would deter ‘consolidation’ – farms getting bigger and bigger, and in most cases even more intensive.
roderick – great comment, thank you.