EU reforms agricultural policy
The EU farming ministers have reached an agreement on upgrading the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The system of subsidies paid to EU farmers needed to be adjusted to the growing prices, climatic changes and globalization, TVN24 reports.
Poland negotiated additional EUR 90 million for the years 2010-2013 to support selected sectors and prolong subsidies for soft fruit producers.
‘I am happy but tired’ Marek Sawicki, Polish Minister of Agriculture told Polish Press Agency.
The principal points of what is known as CAP Health Check are: setting aside intervention instruments in certain sectors and their gradual liberalization, and five annual milk quota increases of 1% each with effect from April 2009, prior to total abolition of the quota system in 2015. The latter is supposed to guarantee a ‘safe landing’ in the new situation, according to Marianne Fischer Boel, EU Agriculture Commissioner.
Minister Sawicki told the news conference that Poland will earmark some of the EUR 90 million to restructure the milking sector to help it adjust to the free market. According to him, the rest of the funds may be allocated for crop and animal husbandry insurance fund. Sawicki believes this fund is especially needed now in view of increasing weather anomalies.
