Campaigners pressure Fischler over CAP reforms

Date: 04/07/02

FARM Commissioner Franz Fischler has been challenged to introduce reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to reduce environmental decline, animal suffering and food prices.

A coalition of seven campaign groups urges that proposals for the CAP 'mid-term review' - due to be published by the European Commission next week (10 July) - should address how to 'reverse decades of harm caused to consumers, farmers, animals, wildlife, biodiversity and natural resources'. The organisations, which include Friends of the Earth and the Eurogroup for Animal Welfare, have sent a series of questions that they want Fischler's proposals to answer. These include:

• How will the EU lower the use of pesticides in modern agriculture?
• What action will be taken to reduce the distances travelled by animals being transported to markets and abattoirs?
• Will the 'dumping' of subsidised European exports on poorer countries cease?
• Does the EU consider the aid it grants to tobacco growers an 'efficient way of allocating resources', given its funding for anti-smoking campaigns?

The group says current policies force small farmers out of business. Since 1992, it adds, agricultural prices in Europe have been falling and direct payments to farmers have indirectly been financing large agro-industry outlets which can buy cheap produce.

Farm Commissioner Franz Fischler has been challenged to introduce reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to reduce environmental decline, animal suffering and food prices.