26 giugno 2003

From Oxfam GB
26 June 2003
EU CAP REFORMS A DISASTER FOR THE POOR

Oxfam today condemned the European Union's CAP reform proposals saying that they comprehensively fail to stop the EU from dumping farm produce on poor countries and could spell disaster for the world trade talks which begin in September.

Phil Bloomer, Head of Advocacy at Oxfam said:
"These proposals confirm our worst fears, there is nothing to celebrate.
European agriculture will still be subsidised to the tune of £30 billion creating vast surpluses that will be dumped on poor countries. The French took Europe's agriculture negotiations hostage and the ransom will be
paid by poor farmers who will continue to suffer as a result of EU dumping.
It is difficult to see what poor countries will get out of the world trade talks in Cancun this September. Europe had the opportunity to take global leadership on making trade work for the poor, instead it has chosen to
stick its head in the sand."

The British tried, but failed, to secure a meaningful deal on CAP reform.
Sugar- a key product for many poor countries - was so divisive that the EU had to take it out of the CAP reform discussions. Reform on milk subsidies was fudged, with the big decisions deferred until 2007.

For example, European dairy giant Arla Foods, which delivers milk to half a million people in Britain every morning, exports some £43 million worth of dairy produce to the Dominican Republic. The European Union gives 
Arla £11 million in export subsidies to help facilitate these exports which makes Arla's milk 25% cheaper than local produce. As a consequence of this, 10,000 farmers have lost their jobs in the dairy industry in the
Dominican Republic over the last twenty years. Nothing in today's deal will stop this from happening.

Bloomer continued:
"Member states have been allowed to protect their own interests. This CAP deal is a failure for the world's poor, member states have added a plethora of caveats and get out clauses to this agreement, including completely
sidestepping the serious problem of dairy dumping by the EU on poor countries."

ENDS
For more information please call Sam Barratt in the Oxfam Media Unit
+ 44 1865 312498 or + 44 7813 021960