De-coupling is seen as the key to the future

Speaking in Copenhagen on September 10th 2002, Commissioner Fischler sought to explain the mid-term review to Danish farmers. He stressed that the CAP needs to be made more responsive to changing demands, particularly with regard to food quality. The new rural development programmes being proposed by the Commission are seen as one way of responding to these concerns for higher quality food. As processing and purchase of agricultural products is increasingly a global operation, the CAP has to be able to deal with this situation, hence the importance of addressing reform questions now rather than later when these international pressures would be more intense. Measures should include ensuring that farmers are paid for the public services they provide with regard to food quality, the environment, landscapes and the preservation of cultural heritages. De-coupling of farm support from production is seen as the key to this, with benefits such as: increased stability for farm incomes, while allowing farmers to respond to market signals; a simplification of the administration of farm support; a simplification of the EU-enlargement process; a greater degree of compatibility with WTO rules and hence greater security for farm-support programmes. He felt that progress with de-coupling now would greatly enhance the credibility of EU positions in the WTO agricultural negotiations.Speaking in Copenhagen on September 10th 2002, Commissioner..