France assumes EU presidency

By VEENA ZACHARIAS

Friday, 4 July 2008: France took over the European Union’s rotating presidency for the next six months. It will organise and chair the European Council meetings from 1 July to 31 December 2008.

“There have been errors in the way that Europe has been built,” French president Nicolas Sarkozy said in a television interview on Monday.

Dorset county chairman for the National Farmers’ Union Paul Harris said, “Agriculture is among France’s priorities but its protectionist strategy indicates that there won’t be any move towards removing trade barriers.

“Instead, France will push for a better deal for European farmers and consumers. This strategy would bode well for Sarkozy in France which is an agriculturally based country,” Mr. Harris said.

The European Union’s trade commissioner Peter Mandelson insists that CAP reform is essential if the EU is to be able to present a strong negotiating position at the World Trade Organisation's current round of liberalisation talks but France has already voiced its opposition to the cut in subsidies to farmers as proposed in the CAP health check in May this year.

Meanwhile, Mr. Sarkozy has promised to protect Europeans and combat the increasing food and fuel prices.