This short paper (4 pages), published in 'Agrifuture' magazine in 2008, presents an approach to redefining agricultural policy through a 'three step concept': a 'basic payment' to compensate for Europe's higher standards in areas such as animal welfare and resource protection, financed by the EU; 'voluntary measures', to address environmental issues such as climate protection, financed wholly by the EU (although issues of a more regional nature would only be partly co-financed by the EU); and 'regional support', for regional specific actions defined at that level and co-financed by the region.