By Martin Banks - 15th March 2011
A new deal is required
Franz Fischler
Former EU agriculture commissioner Franz Fischler has warned that the European economy faces a 'perfect storm' unless its agricultural policy is successfully overhauled.
Speaking on Tuesday, the former Austrian official, who served 10 years as a commissioner, said agriculture "has no future" without major reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP).
He said, "Food security is the new big global threat and we need a radical rethink of the policy."
The high-profile "Forum For Agriculture" event in Brussels comes amid mounting concern at rising food prices around the world and the current debate about CAP reform.
In 2009, the EU spent some €55bn in supporting European agriculture, equivalent to 0.5 per cent of EU GDP.
The conference was told that CAP has been a "cornerstone" of EU polices for over 50 years and that Europe is still a large global importer and exporter of the major food and feed crops.
It was told, however, that since 2006, the majority of CAP payments have not been linked to production and there are increasing calls for the EU to seriously cut back on farm subsidies.
Fischler, who chaired the one-day conference, said that the food riots of 2007 and 2008 had served as a reminder about the importance of food production.
He said the conference was "timely" as it coincided with "another food crisis" with record high food prices "aggravated" by ongoing climate problems.
"For much of the world's population, food insecurity is still a big problem," said Fischler, also a former Austrian government minister.
He added, "We think of food insecurity as a global problem rather than a European problem.
"However, the message I want to convey today is that here in Europe the present food system is unsustainable."
"The international community can and must do better, and developing countries themselves can help by encouraging more sustainable agricultural production of their own."
"The task facing us is daunting and the European agricultural model is under threat, but agriculture has no future without greater resources."
"A new deal is required and the European parliament can play a crucial role in achieving this."
"The fact that parliament is well represented at this conference is proof of the institution's new role."
