COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY (CAP)- Eurobarometer Survey MARCH 2010

French consumers' strong discontent with the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) persisted for the second consecutive year according to a Eurobarometer March survey as 63% felt that CAP « rather badly fulfils its role » compared with  49% last year. The highest degree of dissatisfaction with CAP was recorded in Latvia where 78% thumbed it down. Of 1005 French consumers polled, out of the European Union 26 730 citizens surveyed, 68% set  food safety as the CAP's first priority in terms of agricultural and rural development policy.  On this item, 53% of French consumers surveyed acknowledged CAP's work and felt that it « fulfills its role rather well » compared with 23% who disagreed.    

Protecting the environment and dealing with climate change ranked second  while ensuring a fair standard of living for farmers ranked third followed by ensuring reasonable prices for consumers. Yet as regards the EU budget for agriculture and rural development which represents around 40% of the total EU budget, 46% French consumers felt that the proportion « is adequate » while 23% found it to be « too high » and 13% « insufficient ». Despite farmers well known hardship due to a collapse in revenue, 40% of French consumers polled found that the EU agricultural budget, 1% of  total budget of all member states, is « adequate », compared with 23% who found the budget to be « insufficient » and 17% « too high ». Nevertheless,  74% declared being « in favor » of EU subsidiaries to farmers, compared with 49% « somewhat in favor » and 6% « totally opposed »

In French consumers opinion, farmers in our society today should consider two main priorities: for 60%, supplying the population with health and safe food ranks first followed by protecting the environment, for 35%.

As regards the CAP's new objectives set by the European Union, French consumers surveyed selected five priorities: in first position, 77% felt that to encourage farmers to produce what markets demand is « a good thing » compared with 42% a « fairly good thing » and 35% a « very good thing ». A total 13% disagreed.

In second position, 88% felt that to distribute support for farmers in a more equitable way is « a good thing », 43% «  a very good thing » and 45% a « fairly good thing ».  French consumers nevertheless agreed to link financial support farmers get with the compliance to certain rules regarding environmental protection, food safety and animal welfare for 91% « a good thing », for 48% « a very good thing ».