Van den Bos and Van der Laan (ELDR), in writing. – (NL) The common agricultural policy needs to be reformed on account of the high costs, environmental damage and the disastrous impact it has on developing countries. European agricultural policy must also be acceptable at international level, actually achieving the objectives of the Doha round.

This resolution, however, pleads in favour of an outmoded system. It still underlines the need to guarantee prices, while for years this has proven to be fatal to the sound functioning of the market. This resolution does not sufficiently emphasise the need for far-reaching reforms and settles for the marginal reforms before us. Consequently, we are unable to support Mr Daul's resolution on any count.

D’66 demands democratic control over European agricultural policy. In this connection, the European Parliament must be given the right of codecision and full budgetary authority.

Instead of policy reform, the European Parliament today is consenting to more money for agriculture and a continuation of the present disastrous policy. We are shocked that our Dutch Christian Democrat counterparts in this House should agree to the removal of the budget ceilings in the field of agriculture.