In short, it is the policy of the Danish Government that agricultural support under Pillar 1 should be abolished by 2025.

The Cyprus conference was the third in the series of major EU rural development conferences organised by DG Agriculture but less significant in policy terms than its forerunners.

The 'European Network for Rural Development' was launched by the European Commission at the Conference on Rural Development, held in Cyprus on 16-17 October 2008.

Germany’s official position is focused on the maintenance of direct payments at current levels until 2013 at the very least. At present, the German government will not accept a decrease in direct payments or an increase in the rate of modulation in order to increase funding for Pillar 2 measures. Germany argued against the Health Check proposal to increase milk quotas and would prefer a milk fund to be introduced and funded through Pillar 1. The view of environmental bodies and NGOs differs significantly to the more conservative outlook of the government and the main farmers union, the DBV.

The Swedish position on the reform of the CAP, especially on the more fundamental long term changes, is very radical, emphasising deregulation, phasing out single farm payments and rewarding the provision of public goods. The reasons for this position, both in terms of the Health Check and longer term reform, are set out below.