Consumer groups and aid agencies have rounded angrily on the reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), warning that the compromise would leave taxpayers continuing to foot the bill for huge European farm surpluses that would harm producers in the developing world.
Campaigners accused British Prime Minister Tony Blair of putting the global trade talks in jeopardy by failing to stand up to French President Jacques Chirac on agricultural protection.
Dame Sheila McKechnie, director of the British Consumers’ Association, said: ”This is a tragic missed opportunity, and once again it is consumers who will pay the price.
”With crucial World Trade Organisation (WTO) trade talks now under way, this is a desperate attempt by the European Union to con our trading partners into believing that EU farm subsidies are really rural and environmental policies.
”In reality, they are little more than the old production subsidies rebranded with green window- dressing. The only thing green about this deal is anyone who believes it represents real reform.”
She added that the total CAP budget of £30-billion would remain in place until 2013 — giving a further decade of more subsidies. The largest farmers would continue to be given very large amounts of money and the policy would remain grossly damaging to development.
Phil Bloomer, head of advocacy at Oxfam, said: ”These proposals confirm our worst fears. There is nothing to celebrate. European agriculture will still be subsidised to the tune of £30-billion, creating vast surpluses that will be dumped on poor countries. The French took Europe’s agriculture negotiations hostage, and the ransom will be paid by poor farmers who will continue to suffer as a result of EU dumping.
”It is difficult to see what poor countries will get out of the world trade talks in Cancun this September.
”Europe had the opportunity to take global leadership on making trade work for the poor. Instead it has chosen to stick its head in the sand.”
Bloomer added that Britain had tried but failed to secure a meaningful deal on CAP reform.
The issue of sugar — a vital crop for many poor countries — had been so divisive that the EU had to take it out of the CAP reform discussions.
Reform of milk subsidies had been fudged, the big decisions deferred until 2007.
Duncan Green, a trade policy analyst at the Catholic aid agency Cafod, said: ”The EU is massaging the figures to make it look good for the upcoming WTO summit in Cancun this September. But this agreement is a bad deal for the world’s poor. Dumping will go on.
”It beggars belief that the EU can continue to pump £30-billion a year and it will not lead to dumping. It’s an outrage. The EU’s support for dairy farmers amounts to around £11-billion per year, which works out at about £1,40 per day for each cow.
”Put another way, the average EU cow now receives more than the income of half the world’s population.” — Â