What are the NFUs priorities for the next CAP reform?
We’re consulting our members and recently launched an online survey to gauge their views. I would encourage all NFU members who have something to say on the CAP to get involved via our website (http://www.nfuonline.com/websurveys/CAPSurvey/cap_survey.htm) or our regional offices. There are some key principles that we fundamentally support. The first is maintaining a strong CAP and ensuring that the policy is as “common” as possible. Having a simpler policy is also a top priority, both as regards the general framework agreed in Europe and the implementation model adopted in England and Wales. We are very wary of any direct payment scheme that uses farm size, turnover or some other woolly criteria as a basis for determining payment levels. Third, we want a policy that is focused on the market. This not only means decoupling, but also ensuring that the EU concentrates on correcting the failings in the market, such as overbearing power from retailers or poor contractual arrangements like t
