We are urgently developing research requirements with other European laboratories to make sure we understand and the disease (Schmallenberg) better.EU considers CAP name change
THE CAP could be re-branded as the Common Agricultural and Environmental Policy to reflect the importance of green farming and secure public backing of the budget.
The EU Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik called for a ‘profound greening of the CAP’ as he addressed the Forum For Agriculture conference in Brussels this week.
The Commissioner, from Slovenia, said a Common Agricultural and Environmental Policy could be used to justify a strong EU budget.
“If we can achieve a very significant and profound ‘greening’ of the CAP – not the greenwash we know will get us nowhere – we can also get the stronger public support we need for continuing the high level of CAP financing.
“All the signs are that the public expect CAP funding to be delivering real environmental-friendly public goods, and this is a very clear means to meet these expectations.
“With such reasoning, I can see somewhere in the future an EU policy that would be called something like ‘Common Agricultural and Environmental policy’.
“But this is of course an idea that needs some further thinking and discussion,” he said.
What do you think on a change of name for the CAP? What other names would you suggest? Leave your comments in the box below.
Readers' comments (4)
Rafa | 18 March 2010 5:36 pm
How about the Common Rural Agricultural Policy?
Then the CLA and RSPB might prefer the CEP?
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Anonymous | 19 March 2010 8:51 pm
Mr Surman, is JP male or female - you use both she and he in your article?
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Norman | 23 March 2010 3:11 pm
Rafa's comment about the CLA/RSPB is glib and pathetic. Surely the Commissioner's comments demonstate the need to embrace the idea of environmental goods in order to maximise funding to the rural areas. Farmers, wake up and smell the 21st century!!
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James | 23 March 2010 4:20 pm
It is dangerous to rename anything but straight Agriculture. Once Environment is included in the name there is an open door to remove grants from farming and possibly remove them out of Agriculture altogether in due course. Stick with CAP!
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