EU squabbles about farm subsdidies

EU New Member States complain about agricultural subsidies From USDA FAS

As the debate about future levels of farm support in Europe intensifies over the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) budget after 2013, the new member states face stiff competition for their own domestic markets from more heavily subsidized commodities from Western Europe. This fact has brought the EU's Eastern partners together to advocate for equality in the CAP and Eastern EU member state agricultural ministers met in Poland February 5 to discuss an action plan. If anything, the movement points to a trend of support for a higher CAP budget overall in Europe as the more heavily subsidized Western nations may not part willingly with their farm payments so equalization will mean more cash for farming.