Germany considers reform of EU farming policy

Germany appears to be changing its stance on direct subsidies for Polish farmers. According to sources quoted by Rzeczpospolita, Germany is now willing to grant Polish farmers subsidies, but on the condition that EU farming policy is reformed. For Polish farmers the German proposal would mean receiving less money than they had initially anticipated, but quickly obtaining equal terms of competition with farmers in other EU countries who would lose part of their financial aid. For Germany, it would mean aiding farmers from accession countries, but at the cost of farmers from other countries rather than German taxpayers. During yesterday's EU Council session, German diplomats assured that the EU would be able to work out a farming compromise by June. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A1) T.J.