Farm follies revisited

摘要

At last, say some European Union leaders, it is time for tough talk about the future of farming. Even the subsidy-mad French agree: a mid-term review of the common agricultural policy (cap) is to begin during their stint in the eu's rotating presidency, later this year. It all sounds encouraging. Except for this: even as governments boast of tackling difficult reforms soon, France, Germany and others are trying to thwart an easy reform now that would let eu dairy farmers take advantage of soaring world prices. The row centres on the eu's milk quotas, which cap production in each country, with swingeing fines for producing too much. It offers a revealing, and depressing, case study.