EUROPE – Details of the mid-term review of Europe’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) were released yesterday with the European Commission promising reforms will bring increased choice for consumers.

Speaking about the reforms, European Commission president Romano Prodi said: “Our aim is to give EU farmers wider scope for choice. More freedom for farmers means more choice for consumers.” The new measures aim to make payments to farmers conditional on high environmental standards as the EU tries to sever the link between production and direct payments. By reducing direct support, the EU claims that it will increase funds available for rural development and put an increased emphasis on quality production.

In a statement, Prodi said that the new measures would not harm international trade or developing countries.