§ John BarrettTo ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what impact recent reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy will have on developing countries. [127940]
§ Hilary BennThe deal agreed by the Agriculture Council on 26 June represents a real shift in agricultural policy which will benefit developing countries as well as European farmers and taxpayers. The most important change is the de-linking of support from production, but there have also been significant changes to some commodity regimes. The reforms should connect European farmers more closely to the market and begin to reduce excessive production which results in dumping and harms developing countries, The deal will also pave the way for reforms to other EU commodity regimes and most importantly should give new momentum to the current round of WTO agriculture negotiations.