We have decided to focus on the rural development and rural environment aspects of the Communication. The Agenda 2000 Communication follows a series of reform proposals and discussion documents. The Commission's Agricultural Strategy Paper , presented to the Madrid European Council in December 1995 outlined the need for an integrated rural policy to accompany reform of the CAP in the direction of internal and international competition and the liberalisation of trade. The First Cohesion Report of November 1996 similarly advocated policy to enhance the economic potential and environmental value of rural areas. The proposals in Agenda 2000 6.
Agriculture forms only one part of the proposals.
For the agricultural sector, the Commission suggests lower prices for some products, greater decoupling of support from production and more emphasis on rural environmental and rural development measures. This payment would be lowered if market prices were sustained at a higher level than currently foreseen. Durum wheat supplementary aids would remain unaffected. Voluntary set-aside would continue and attract the non crop specific payment rate. Increased private intervention.