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30,000 farmers lay siege to Brussels

- 22 February 1999
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22 February 1999

30,000 farmers lay siege to Brussels


by FWi staff

POLICE have deployed razor wire and barricaded streets against an estimated 30,000 farmers in Brussels demonstrating against the impending reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

European Union (EU) officials were busy boarding up many buildings in the city yesterday and the authorities have urged shops and offices to close for the day.

The farmers claim their livelihoods are under threat from European Commission proposals to reform the CAP and pay fewer direct subsidies to producers.

But the commission denies this, claiming that the proposals, known as Agenda 2000, are vital to allow the EU to extend its membership to the countries of central Europe.

European analysts say that without wide-ranging reform, extending the CAP to countries such as Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic would bankrupt the EU.

They also claim that reform is necessary to meet free trade commitments made under World Trade Organisation Agreements.

European farm ministers today will debate a tough set of proposals aimed at agreeing the framework for fundamental CAP reform by the end of this week.

The commission proposes to compensate farmers for a drop in the guaranteed prices of beef, cereals and dairy products which will be reduced towards world price levels.

Germany, which holds the European presidency, wants CAP spending to be frozen at 1999 levels between 2001 and 2006.

The Germans also call for certain forms of “co-financing”, under which a proportion of CAP spending will come directly from EU member countries.

The Financial Times and The Daily Telegraph say that Germany, formerly an arch advocate of the status quo, now favours change because the recently elected government is less dependent than its predecessor on the farm vote.

The same papers also report on disquiet about the German position, pointing out that France remains opposed to CAP reform for the sectors of dairying, beef and cereals.

French ministers have described the Agenda 2000 proposals to increase production-limiting quotas and cut prices as “incomprehensible” and have opposed the 30% price cuts in beef suggested by the European Commission.

Meanwhile, the European Unions 15 heads of government will meet on Friday for an informal summit near Bonn.

They will try to progress with the Agenda 2000 negotiations on reforms of the EUs budget, its farm policy and its aid for poorer regions.

The most difficult issues are expected to be resolved at next months special summit in Berlin.

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