France slammed over CAP payments

France's defence of the common agricultural policy has come under fire from a leading charity.

In a report published on Monday, Oxfam said that most of France' CAP cash is going to wealthy landowners, rather than helping those with smaller farmers.

The criticism came as EU foreign ministers held talks in Brussels.

France has been sticking up for the current CAP regime, despite pressure for further change to secure a successful conclusion to the Doha talks.

Oxfam said that in 2004, the top 15 per cent of French farmers were paid 60 per cent of the subsidies given to the country.

And the 70 per cent of small farmers received just 17 per cent of the total subsidies.

"The latest figures show that France's argument that the CAP is used primarily to support its small farmers rings hollow,'" said Jo Leadbeater, Oxfam's head of advocacy.

"Europe's regime of farm subsidies goes to the wealthiest landowners and destroys the livelihoods of poor farmers.

"One of the biggest issues Oxfam has faced in researching farm payments is the secretive way that EU member states make payments.

"We're now starting to see the murky world of CAP begin to unravel."

Oxfam also warned against policies that "dump cheap produce into poor countries".