Eu Cap Secure — For Now

The European Union’s financial crisis is big news these days, which made a seminar for North American journalists about EU monetary policy particularly timely. Naturally, a Canadian farm journalist had to ask about the future of the Common Agricultural Policy, which we are often told is unsustainable and about to break the EU bank. The

EU Pig Farmers Plead For Emergency Support

brussels/reuters European pork producers urged the EU executive last Friday to agree emergency support measures to bring the sector out of its “present crisis situation,” which they blamed on low prices and soaring costs of animal feed. The European Union’s pig herd has recently begun to shrink in size following a 70 per cent rise


Britain Wants Deeper CAP Reform

The EU executive’s plans to reform the common agricultural policy are too timid, Britain’s farming and Environment Minister Caroline Spelman said Dec. 6. The European Commission adopted plans last month that would force farmers to do more to protect the environment in order to justify public subsidies. It also proposed moving some funding from direct

Canada Gets Foot In EU Beef Door

An agreement giving Canada access to an EU beef import quota could provide a beachhead for increased Canadian beef sales to Europe. Canada will have duty-free access to a 20,000- tonne quota for hormone-free beef exports to the EU which could be worth $10 million a year, according to the Canadian Beef Export Federation. More


Mixed Reviews For EU’s Green Farm Policy

The EU executive adopted plans Nov. 18 that will force farmers to do more to protect the environment in order to justify public subsidies, despite farm unions warning that could threaten their economic viability. In a policy paper on reforming the EU’s common agricultural policy (CAP) from 2013, the European Commission said linking direct subsidies

Expensive CAP Unlikely To Be Capped

With a wave of post-crisis austerity sweeping Europe, deep cuts to public spending are the order of the day, and for some, the EU’s much-criticized common agricultural policy (CAP) is a prime target for cost savings. But given the current debate on the future of the European Union’s farm policy, those wanting a radical reform


EU’s Big States Confirm Opposition To GM Crop Plans

Proposals to let EU states decide for themselves whether to grow or ban genetically modified (GM) crops suffered a big setback Sept. 27 as many of the bloc’s largest governments confirmed they opposed the plans. To pass, the proposals put forward by the European Commission in July will need the support of a majority of

EU Moves To Relax BSE Feed Rules

The European Union could lift a ban on the use of animal protein in pig and poultry feed – imposed in 2001 as part of efforts to fight mad cow disease – under plans published by the bloc’s executive July 16. The idea is one of several moves to relax EU measures against bovine spongiform


Cautious Approach Urged In EU Trade Talks

“(Canadian farmers) would be forgiven for suggesting that the standard of support in the EU is risk elimination.” – TRADE CONSULTANT PETER CLARK Acautious approach to negotiating the agriculture component of a free trade agreement with the European Union is needed, warns trade expert Peter Clark. Clark’s observations about the trade talks came as the

Cuba Frees Farmers To Sell To Havana Markets

Cuba, yielding to public complaints, said June 11 it would allow farmers to sell more food directly to Havana’s often sparse produce markets, and also replaced the country’s agriculture minister. Farmers have long said the state failed to adequately move their produce to market, while consumers have complained food is often scarce and of poor