EU agriculture commissioner Mr Franz Fischler called for the swift overhaul of European farm subsidies following the EU summit agreement to cap agricultural aid from 2007.
In a speech today, he welcomed the deal, based on a pre-summit accord between France and Germany, saying: "We now have a clear idea of the farm budget available in the future."
Mr Fischler said the European Commission will respect the wishes of EU leaders regarding the timing of his proposals for reform under the mid-term review.
"But the fundamental issues and the aims that were addressed in the (mid-term review) remain unchanged," he said.
"We now put these aims into the perspective of the new financial framework. I am convinced that if we do not act quickly, the gap between our ambitious policy objectives and what the (common agricultural policy) delivers to consumers, citizens and farmers would grow further," he said.
AFP
