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Commonwealth Secretariat press release

Some light, some hope

27 June 2003

Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon says the European Union's (EU) decision to reform the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) "is a step in the right direction".

Mr McKinnon welcomed yesterday's decision by European agriculture ministers to sever the link between subsidies and levels of production, which should reduce overproduction and dumping on world markets.

"There have been many attempts to reform CAP in the past. All have failed. When you think how difficult it has been to achieve this agreement and how long it took - more than 30 years - it has to be good news.

"As the Chinese proverb says, a long journey starts with one single step. The process of winding down agricultural subsidies will certainly be fraught with difficulties and setbacks. It will be a long and slow death, but at least the beast has been wounded."

The Secretary-General said the agreement is significant because it will give developing countries much-needed encouragement and allow the World Trade Organisation talks in Cancun, Mexico, in September to start on firmer ground. He pointed out that it is by no means a guarantee for successful negotiations, but said it's a good start.

"There is some light, some hope. The challenge now is to keep the momentum going and ensure that developing countries are not forced into unfair compromises as a result of the EU's gesture of goodwill.

"It will take some time before the full impact of this decision can be properly assessed and developing countries start feeling the real benefits of a fairer global trade system. But yesterday's decision shows that change is possible," Mr McKinnon added.
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