Spain will not implement farm reform

Spain will not start implementing reforms to its farm policy, agreed at European Union level last year, until January 2006, Agriculture Minister Elena Espinosa said on Monday.
"Spain will state its intention of taking advantage of the transitory period until January 2006," Espinosa told an event organised by Forum Europa, a current affairs group.
The EU brokered a sweeping reform of its subsidy-laden farm policy in Luxembourg in June 2003. Under the deal, governments could start the reforms, which include cutting the link between production and subsidies, any time between 2005 and 2007.
France said in February it would start implementing the radical reforms in 2006.