EU farm subsidies "reassigned"

European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Dacian Cioloş stated in a press conference that the Common Agricultural Policy implies a fundamental choice between an extensive, strong agriculture and one that plays a minor role in the European economy.

"The future European policy has to achieve a greater balance between the European territories than it used to in the past", Dacian Cioloş stated.

The European Commissioner says that the future European policy, which is still under debate and has to be adopted by the mid next year, has three objectives: food security, the management of natural resources and the balance between the European territories.

Dacian Cioloş stated that the European farm subsidies have to be granted according to the "principle of equity", which means that subsidy payments should be fairly distributed between regions and different agricultural holdings.

In the Commissioner’s opinion, local initiatives should be supported, and the EU should not turn a blind eye to the small-time farmers, who can ensure a better social and economic circuit.

"The reassignment of subsidies is an evolution, rather than a revolution. This two-speed subsidy system based on a historical criterion has to end", Dacian Cioloş added.

The European Commissioner says that this reassignment does not mean that some farmers will be more subsidized than others will.

Dacian Cioloş answered the question posed by an Estonian journalist and used as an example the farmers in Baltic countries who receive smaller subsidies than the European average, and said that after the implementation of the future Common Agricultural Policy the condition of these farmers would improve.

However, this does not mean farmers in older EU member states should sit comfortably and wait for more money, and the potential contests from important countries such as France and Germany, will be discussed in the European Parliament.

"Europe means 27 member states, not just two and it is in their interest for the Agricultural Policy to evolve, to become credible, strong and reformed", European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Dacian Cioloş added.

Translated by Raluca Mizdrea and Gabriela Lungu

MA Students, MTTLC, University of Bucharest