Having seen the Commission proposals for CAP through to 2020, AIC believes the question has to be asked. 

Faced with some significant global challenges, clearly set out in the UK Foresight report, the Commission appears to have put national self interest ahead of rising to the challenges offered to EU agriculture, says AIC.

The proposals appear to take us much further away from a credible Common Agricultural Policy and thrust UK agriculture towards being governed by a much wider rural policy.  Taking on a funding role more properly managed within other areas of the Commission places agriculture at the whim of a much wider pressure group lobby than has previously been seen and will make it increasingly difficult to remain focussed on the core principles of the CAP.

"We believe the Commission had a real opportunity to deliver a policy and regulatory framework to deliver a sustainable, productive and profitable agricultural sector," says Paul Rooke, AIC head of policy. "For the UK at least, it seems that opportunity has not so much been missed, as was never even considered.  A more realistic approach is needed over the next 12-18 months if we are still to recover something that protects UK production and current levels of self sufficiency – with their added welfare standards that consumers have come to expect from domestic agricultural production"