France urges tougher agriculture regulation.

"Agriculture is too strategic to be left to market forces," incoming French Agriculture Minister Bruno Le Maire told journalists after his first meeting with European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso.
"We saw in the financial sector what happens when we leave market forces to themselves," he added. "We need as much regulation in agriculture as in the financial sector."
According to recently published data, French farmers saw their incomes fall 20 percent last year even though France is the biggest recipient of EU agriculture subsidies.
Nevertheless, Le Maire distinguished himself from his predecessor Michel Barnier by indicating that he would not fight at whatever cost to keep milk production quotas.
"On quotas, I'm pragmatic," he said. EU Business
10.07.2009