French document supports NFU thoughts on the future of the CAP - UK - The NFU has today welcomed a document presented by the French government at the meeting of the European Union agricultural council late last night, as a constructive and valuable contribution to the debate on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy.

National Pig Association THE VOICE OF THE UK PIG INDUSTRY NPA is active on members' behalf in Brussels & Whitehall, and with processors, supermarkets & caterers - fighting for the growth and pros-perity of the UK pig industry.

The memorandum, supported by a number of member states, highlights the fact that trends such as the expansion in world population, tensions around natural resources and global warming and the development of non-food uses for agricultural raw materials will underpin the role for agriculture and the farming community in the future. It argues that the future EU agricultural strategy should be considered within this context.

The document raises the importance of the following issues:

1. The EU must take appropriate measures in order to secure the global competitiveness of European farming and promote its sustainability whilst recognising the key role that EU agriculture plays in food security and food safety, among other issues.
   
   

2. Trade should reflect the stringent regulatory regime faced by EU producers
   
   

3. The CAP needs to be maintained as a common policy as a pre-requisite of fair competition in the internal market. The document draws attention to the need for a more simple and transparent management of the CAP through administrative simplification, simplification of the legal framework and analysis of alternatives to the traditional regulation.

The memorandum also identifies some of the challenges facing the agricultural sector in coming years, including income volatility and the 'communication deficit'. In both cases, potential tools to address these challenges are outlined, in the form of risk management strategies and a communication strategy to promote the CAP to consumers.

Paul Temple, vice president of the NFU, said: “The suggestions in the Memorandum reflect some of the core beliefs driving NFU thinking and policy at the moment. The French document highlights the importance of communication with society, competitiveness, reducing the regulatory burden and refusing re-nationalisation. It rightly looks to the long term and identifies the need for a vibrant rural economy which under pins the future for the whole of society.”

Source: the National Pig Association - 22nd March 2006