During his visit to Vienna today [Monday] to discuss proposals for the mid-term review of the common agricultural policy (CAP), EU Commissioner Franz Fischler stressed that changes in the support system were not only in the interests of the consumers, the environment and animal welfare, but in the basic interests of Austrian farmers.
The Commissioner claimed that with their total rejection of the proposals, some farmers’ representatives were scoring an own goal. Closing their ears to the expectations of the public and playing a waiting game was an attitude which would backfire because in so doing the farmers would lose the support of the taxpayers.
Fischler said he found it hard to understand the logic in totally rejecting a proposal which would work to the advantage of Austrian farmers since under the new support system they would receive more money at the end of the day than previously, particularly since the strengthening of rural development policy would provide financial assistance to farmers in preparation for enlargement.
He wanted to clear up the false impression that the Commission was setting out to reduce the agricultural budget. The Commission had kept its word. Not a comma had been changed in the budget plans up to 2006 and all that would happen was that the money would be used more sensibly and more efficiently.
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