OPEN EUROPE REPORT ON COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY REFORM

That this House commends the recent Open Europe report on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) which has calculated that the UK remains a big loser from the CAP; notes that the report calculates that between 2007 and 2013, the UK will contribute 33.7 billion to the CAP and get back 26.6 billion, a net contribution of 7.1 billion, and believes that there remains no clear link between the wealth of a country and how much it receives from the CAP; and calls on the Government as a matter of urgency to campaign for a full liberalisation of the CAP along the lines advocated by Open Europe and to deliver a new, pragmatic, radically revamped EU farm policy, which would allow for resources to be effectively allocated to generate production and environment benefits, while better targeting jobs and growth.