FIelds challenge

She is proud to remember that when she was asked to become European Commissioner for Agriculture in 2004 she was in her farm in Denmark. Mariann Fischer Boel, after having served as Minister in her own country, was called by José Manuel Barroso to be part of the EU Commission: “I knew that this would be one of the greatest responsibilities of my life”, she explained. Today, as her mandate is about to end (the Executive’s five year term ends on October 31, but will be postponed until new nominations are made) she is taking stock of her work. With more lights than shadows she reckons.“Stop milking the EU”. Born in Aasum in 1943, Fischer Boel studied languages and was active in the liberal party. She has always privileged the primary sector, fishery and consumer protection. In the last weeks, during the Agriculture Committee meeting, she met 27 Ministers who were claiming funds for the dairy sector. Her proposal led to a 280 million euros fund, so farmers’ protests, wrong-footed by low milk prices, have for the time being stopped. She said: “You must stop milking the EU. There is no money left”. This might have been her last battle in Brussels: the Danish representative said she doesn’t want to run for a second term. Reforms and budget. Fischer Boel has worked in a community sector that drains a large share of the budget: over 40% of overall resources are allocated to agriculture, farming and “rural development”. When she came to power she implemented the sector’s reform deal of 2003, adjusting it to a Union that was going to include 12 new member states. “Sometimes agricultural and rural policies might seem mysterious to common citizens. However, this policy is part of their everyday life. Our farmers supply food to 500 million people”. Her considerations will be published in a document titled: “Agricultural and rural policy under Commissioner Mariann Fischer Beol”. She says that farmers manage almost half of the community’s territory, and of nearly 80% of it together with forest managers. “Agriculture can be a strong ally in the fight against climate change,” “providing precious renewable energy sources.” From the field to the market. The Commissioner’s view is as broad as the funding to a sector that employs 2/3 of the European workforce. According to her, agriculture must be seen a consumer service, as a landscape and environmental safeguard activity, as an occupational and social venue in many EU areas (consider regions strictly focused on rural or mountain activities). The CAP (common agricultural Policy) has had to address many challenges in the last years: “We have adjusted the sector’s daily management trying to rationalize funding” (the “decoupling system”, the “cross-compliance” principle) “we have imported CAP reformed principles into an international context”. A protectionist agriculture policy is not in favour of the consumer’s interest and is in contrast with international free market principle. Fischer Boel has also had to consider the need to protect domestic markets, and favour those who are still courageously linked to agricultural life.GMO, biodiversity, Internet. In 2007, the CAP itself was reviewed while other delicate sectors were reformed: sugar, fruit and vegetables and wine. Each time clashes between divergent opinions emerged: small farmers and large enterprises, North European farmers and those of the Mediterranean and new Member states: producers and consumers: EU farmers and those of Developing Countries. “Thus the urgency of a link between farmer income support and development of a rural policy”, “focus on market competition.” And other topics such as: GMO, bird flu, subsidies to cattle meat exports, biodiversity safeguard, biological agriculture, the decision to provide fruits and milk in schools. The Commissioner’s last effort is the EU commitment to allocate in 2009 and 2010 subsidies worth a billion euro to provide Internet and broadband connection to rural areas. A way to change Common Agricultural policy.