” ” The rise in food prices in Europe and in the world is "a problem which is caused by different factors and forces us to take action on several fronts". The president of the EU Commission, José Manuel Barroso, explains the meaning of the report adopted today by the EU Executive, which outlines "potential political responses for containing the effects of the rise in food prices". The report will be submitted to the 27 member states during the summit of 19 and 20 June. The report reviews the state of prices, with the structural and cyclical factors that affect them; then, it offers a "political response on three fronts". Firstly, "a review of the state of health of the common agricultural policy and the monitoring of retail trade"; secondly, and in the long term, "measures to increase agricultural provisions and ensure secure food supplies", without neglecting agricultural research and the use of bio-fuels; finally, the Commission suggests "measures to contribute to the global effort to contain the effects of price rises on the weaker populations" of the planet.
