I did not vote in favour of the final resolutions on the reform of the CAP for the following reasons: 1. it does not guarantee restoration of the internal balance between the different components of the CAP or greater fairness between farmers, types of production and regions; 2. it does not help to further economic and social cohesion in European rural areas; mechanisms for weighting productivity in such a way as to benefit farmers with lower yields have not been created, despite the European Parliament's approval of such mechanisms; 3. there are no special support measures for small farmers, who are most vulnerable and run the greatest risk of abandonment; 4. it does not adequately reinforce rural development policy, as it does not ensure practical application of the European agricultural model and the multifunctionality associated with it; 5. it does not defend European agriculture in the face of the negotiations in the new round of the World Trade Organisation; 6. it does not take into account solutions for the main problems faced by Portuguese farmers: strategic quotas such as irrigation or beef cattle and sheep have not been increased; it has not achieved an increase in productivity in relation to cereals and oilseed; it has not secured Community financing for restructuring the dairy sector; 7. lastly, because this has been a reform of the status quo, lacking in political courage and quite incapable of preparing European farming for the increased challenges of globalisation, and geared chiefly towards more efficient farmers and agricultural sectors.
Siihen ei sisälly minkäänlaisia erityisiä tukimuotoja pienviljelijöille, vaikka juuri he ovat kaikkein haavoittuvimpia ja siten myös muita alttiimpia jättämään maanviljelyn.4. Se ei vahvista riittävästi maaseudun kehittämistä koskevaa politiikkaa: se ei turvaa maatalouden eurooppalaisen mallin toteuttamista käytännössä eikä edistä sen mahdollisuuksia vastata moniin erilaisiin tarpeisiin.5.