The UK government agrees that the European Commission has identified the right reform challenges for the CAP, “…but their proposals fall short of meeting them.” This candid view came in a ministerial letter to Slow Food founder Carlo Petrini, who earlier this month submitted a document detailing his organisation’s views on reforming the CAP.
Junior minister Lord Taylor of Holbeach wrote to Petrini on February 16: “Currently Defra has published an informal consultation in the form of a discussion paper to seek stakeholder views and comments on how these proposals might affect them. As the proposals are being negotiated through the Agriculture Council, and simultaneously by the European Parliament, the findings of this exercise will help to inform the UK negotiating position. The consultation will be open until 5 March 2012. Should you wish to actively participate, you can do so via the consultation web page here: http://www.defra.gov.uk/consult/2011/12/12/cap-reform-1112/“
You can read a section of the letter below:
