French farmers woo UK tourists over EU subsidies

French farmers promised on Thursday to expand a charm offensive on British tourists this week and offer free gastronomic delights to visitors across the country in defence of their hefty EU farm subsidies.
Perhaps wary of offending delicate British palates with potentially counter-productive frogs' legs and garlic-coated snails, the main farm union FNSEA will offer fresh fruit, meat and cheese to tourists at nine carefully chosen sites on July 1.
In a move timed to coincide with the start of Britain's European Union presidency, ferry passengers arriving at Channel ports will be welcomed with Normandy cider and Camembert cheese.
Britons flying to airports in the south of France will be treated to local apples and grilled meat.
"This is an operation of seduction," FNSEA leader Jean-Michel Lemetayer told a news conference. "The idea is to reach a better understanding with the British people. We want to show that French agriculture is not how it has been portrayed in Britain."
French President Jacques Chirac and British Prime Minister Tony Blair clashed at an acrimonious EU summit two weeks ago, when leaders failed to agree on future funding for the 25-nation bloc.
Britain refused to give up any of its controversial annual rebate from EU coffers without a commitment to curb farm spending which, at more than 40 billion euros ($48 billion) a year, accounts for more than 40 percent of the EU budget.
France says it will not re-open a deal signed in 2002 fixing the budget for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) until 2013, around 20 percent of which goes to French farmers.
Lemetayer said he had written to Blair to ask for a meeting, inviting him to explain his vision of Europe's agricultural policy and to challenge the portrayal of the CAP in Britain.
"The CAP is not a French CAP. A French cow doesn't cost any more than a Spanish cow and even a British cow," he said, referring to the charge that the EU spends two euros a day on every cow in the bloc.
He said the debate over agriculture could not ignore its important role in employment, food security, the environment and countryside development. More than 15 percent of the French workforce was employed in the country's food industry, he said.
Blair himself is no stranger to French agricultural produce. He has often holidayed in rural France and in times of warmer relations Chirac has presented him with gifts of vintage wine.