BRUSSELS (Thomson Financial) - The European Commission will unveil Tuesday a proposed shake-up of the EU's common agriculture policy to lift output in the face of a food crisis, with Britain and France gearing up for battle over hand-outs for farmers.
According to a draft seen by Agence France-Presse, the proposals focus on phasing out milk quotas and scrapping rules on keeping land fallow in order to encourage more production.
Although the proposals are likely to ensure a fierce debate, the European Union's executive arm has already had to water down an early plan to cap handouts to the biggest farms in the face of British and German criticism.
The proposals will next go to member states and the European Parliament to consider in the second half of 2008, when France -- the biggest recipient of EU farm subsidies -- holds the bloc's rotating presidency. tf.TFN-Europe_newsdesk@thomson.com afp/hjp COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Financial News Limited 2008. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Thomson Financial News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Financial News.
© 2008 AFX News
