INFORMATION BULLETIN
Date: 7 April 2008
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Lord Rooker announces publication of the UK’s views on the Common Agricultural Policy “Health Check” reforms
Farming Minister, Jeff Rooker, has announced the publication of the UK’s response to the European Commission’s consultation on the next round of Common Agricultural Policy reform, the CAP “Health Check”, which is being negotiated this year.
He said “The Health Check must be as ambitious as possible in giving farmers greater control over their business decisions so that they can profit from the globalising economy. It must reduce administrative burdens and market distortion and direct a greater share of funding towards the growing environmental challenges”.
Notes for Editors
Five years on from the major CAP reform of 2003, the “Health Check” represents the next significant round of reform.
The European Commission published a consultative “Communication” on 20 November.
The response represents the views of the UK Government and the Governments of the Devolved Administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on what the Health Check reform should deliver. The full text of the response is available at www.defra.gov.uk/farm/policy/capreform/index.htm
The Commission intends to publish its legislative proposals for the reforms on 20 May. The French, who will hold the Presidency of the EU in the second half of this year, aim to negotiate agreement by the end of the year.
End
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Page published: 7 April 2008