It used to be that discussion of European farm policy was confined to Brussels bureaucrats, with the occasional eruption of protests by farmers threatened by freer international trade. But try mentioning farm subsidies at a dinner party these days. The ensuing conversation-well informed or otherwise-will range from mad-cow disease to foot and mouth to organic farming. And while there may be some disagreements, one thing is certain: the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) will be seen as the main culprit for the problems of British and European agriculture.
The story isn’t that different elsewhere in Europe. Even in France, where there has long been a consensus among governments, consumers and farmers in defence of EU subsidies, the BSE crisis has provoked a rethink. Add to this the high cost of extending the system to the 13 countries seeking to join the EU, plus the demands for change from other members of the World Trade Organisation, and the CAP looks increasingly shaky.
Goodbye to the CAP?
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