WWF is outraged by the outcome on CAP which will continue the highly controversial and damaging Direct Payments system, which continues to reward farming interests that destroy the environment and provide little long-term social benefit.

 

While a commitment has been made to ensure 20% of the budget will go to climate change mitigation, there is no detail on how this aspirational measure will be implemented. 

 

 

 

“Heads of States and governments have failed to show any true leadership and have behaved more like “bean counters” squabbling over narrow national interests at the expense of common European priorities.”

 

“Instead of tackling issues that matter to the European public like the creation of green jobs, sustainable farming, environment or overseas aid, they have agreed on a backward looking budget.”

 

 

 

“WWF is shocked to see that Member States have protected the discredited CAP direct payments from the bulk of cuts. Leaders have played into the hands of the European Parliament Agriculture and Rural Development committee and conservative agrifoods lobby who are seeking a no strings attached budget that would allow them to keep throwing money at intensive farming and agri-food business that are harming the environment. The proposed ‘greening’ of direct payments is so far a shameful smokescreen. It will certainly backfire on the reputation of the EU budget as a whole, undermining the European project.”

 

 

 

PHILIPPE CARR, Media and Communications| WWF European Policy Office pcarr@wwf.eu, Tel: +32 2 7400 925, Mob:+32 476 256 879