French farming minister: we all need the CAP

The CAP should not be dismantled and instead other economic blocks around the world should adopt its principles to solve the current food crisis.

That was the message from the French farming minister Michel Barnier this week.

Mr Barnier caused a stir amongst free marketers last month when he joined with President Sarkozy and called for farmer subsidies to be maintained in order to boost Europe's agricultural production.

His comments caused uproar ahead of Doha trade talks that are meant to reduce trade distorting barriers to benefit poorer nations across the world.

At the time, his critics accused him of trying to undo years of hard work that has gone into freeing the market from Europe's unfair trade practices.