On 22 January the European Commission proposed its updated draft reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP) (the previous draft was presented on 10 July last year). The plan envisages the cumulative reduction of direct subsidies to agriculture by 1% per year, beginning in 2007. This will involve a total reduction of subsidies equivalent to 6% by 2012. “We no longer want to force farmers to produce goods poorly remunerated by the market in the single perspective of subsidies. Thanks to the separation of aid, farmers will have the possibility of producing in the sectors that offer them the most favourable prospects”, explained Franz Fischler, European Commissioner for agriculture and fisheries. Moreover, he added, “we will place the farmer at the centre of our policy of subsidies, rather than the number of cattle he farms or the tons of wheat he produces, as was the case in the past”. “The reform of the common agricultural policy is essential to permit the sustainable development of Europe”, commented the Commission of the episcopates of the European Community on 29 November last year (cf. SirEuropa n°.44/2002).
