Germany to lead attack on farm reforms

09 September 1997

Germany to lead attack on farm reforms

GERMANY, likely allied with Belgium and Austria, will claim
today that proposals to reform the European Unions Common Agricultural Policy
are unnecessary and will weaken farmers competitiveness.

Franz-Josef Feiter, state secretary in the German ministry responsible
for agriculture, said proposals to limit the amount of direct payments available
to large farms would reduce competitiveness. He was speaking ahead of a meeting
of European agriculture ministers in Luxembourg.

Germany also objects to the fact that increases in direct payments to farmers
would not fully compensate for a planned reduction in support prices.