Why has the Common Agricultural Policy proved so difficult to reform?

Answer 1

It is not just French farmers but farmers in many European countries that have political power far above what their proportion of the electorate is. In many countries (especially France) the urban population like to cling to the notion of a mythical peasant past-where everybody lived in bucolic splendour-in this way that farmers are cosseted from market forces becomes more palatable.

There is something deeply flawed about paying farmers to keep land unproductive, while blocking imports from cheaper countries and making food prices higher for all of us while denying 3rd world farmers a market for their products.

Answer 2

My belief is the French have made reform of the Common Agricultural Policy difficult to reform because their very existence depends upon the peasant farmers of France - they are at the core of the French Revolution, which is still on-going by the way. Mess with the French peasants and you get tractors in your town spreading muck on the steps of your town hall. Lorry loads of English sheep get set on fire and much much worse.

Answer 3

Because the french farmers benefit so much from it that they get their government to veto any idea by other EU countries to change it.
I wish my government would do something like that for me instead of putting us into a war we don't want.
There needs to be reform not just to the CAP but to the whole way that the EU works, although as a member of one of the richer countries in the EU I can see why we don't want change as it would only benefit the new and poorer countries and would make the big three (Britain France and Germany) alot less powerful economically and politically

Answer 4

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Agricultural_Policy

It's a difficult one to explain. Reforms are in process at the moment. As Farmers we now receive Single Farm Payments and are in the Stewardship Scheme.
Have a look at the link above for a better explanation than I can give!!

Answer 5

Subsidies presented while there have been nonetheless the risks of shortage because of the effects of WW2. long old, many international locations and farmers in Europe (France specifically) nonetheless press for them to be saved. it fairly is time somebody killed it off.

Answer 6

"It distorts the EU single market; it fails to increase the efficiency ofEuropean farming; and it principally benefits the biggest farms in the richest EU countries"

Answer 7

Vested interests.

Answer 8

French farmers.

They get an unbelievably good deal out of it, and won't give it up.