Development/Fair Trade Activists

Fundamental CAP reform will reduce European production and thus increase earning opportunities for developing country farmers. Development and fair trade activists will particularly welcome the removal of export subsidies criticized for destroying livelihoods in developing countries.

Maybe more important is the competition for EU funds. It has been increasingly acknowledged that the duplication of expertise and programs across national development agencies wastes donor resources and complicates life for recipients. So delivering more development aid directly through the EU is desirable.

However, getting additional funds for EU development aid is anything but easy. The economic crisis has aggravated public deficits and debts. The next long-term EU budget may thus even shrink. At the same time, it is clear that more money will be spent on enhancing EU competitiveness, addressing climate change and preserving the environment. And Eastern European countries will fight hard for structural and cohesion funds. Increases in EU development aid are thus only viable if the CAP budget is significantly cut back. European farmers should get less, the hungry should get more.