Word: boel
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...Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel - who herself owns three farms in Denmark - says the proposed changes would redirect farm aid to those who really need it. They slash subsidies above $147,000 by 10%, above $296,000 by 20% and above $443,000 by 45%. "We need to look at whether we need to adjust the CAP for an E.U. of 27 countries and a rapidly changing world," Fischer Boel said. "The changes I propose will make a real difference for farmers, consumers and taxpayers...
...Commission officials say farm aid is not just about handouts for food production, but about preserving Europe's rural heritage. In recent years, aid has prioritized environmental and tourist activities linked to protecting rural areas against extreme weather and climate change. Fischer Boel's proposals aim to go even further in that direction...
...Fischer Boel hopes to address this by encouraging uncompetitive farmers to leave the industry "with dignity." Her proposals will also scrap a quota system that prevents young farmers from planting new, higher-quality grape varieties. The Commission wants the E.U. to change labeling rules to allow grape names such as Chardonnay or Sauvignon to be printed on all bottles rather than only on wines that are recognized as high quality. And it will call for a budget of $580 million for the 2008-2009 season to reimburse farmers to "grub up," or rip out, 400,000 acres of vines...
...most controversial measures expected from the European Commission is the proposal to ban the use of sugar, which has been used for centuries to increase the alcoholic strength for labels such as Champagne. Fischer Boel wants winemakers to use unfermented grape juice instead, a move that would use some of the continent's excess capacity - even if it costs three times as much as using sugar...
Previous attempts at reform, however, have been met with hostility by the governments of Europe's wine-producing countries. And in the face of the inevitable backlash, the question is whether Fischer Boel will be able to drain the lake, or merely decant...