France’s prime minister, Dominique de Villepin, has described the EU’s CAP as non-negotiable. “We agreed a compromise to the Common Agricultural Policy and the British signed up to it. It is a good compromise and should be applied to 2013.”

Well, yes. France similarly signed up to the British rebate somewhat earlier, and without a time limit. The point is that the CAP deal was a stitch-up between France and Germany when they thought that their agreement was all it took to get an EU deal. Times have changed. The new EU members, instead of “taking the opportunity to shut up”, as President Chirac suggested they should, now show every sign of wanting to be heard. The CAP consumes 40 percent of the EU budget; France is the biggest recipient, and 80 percent of that goes to big businesses rather than small farmers.

In return for negotiating on the rebate, Britain should push for a deal which phases out CAP for big businesses by 2008, and for small farmers by 2013. That will take some of the political pressure off governments.

The world is gradually moving the right way, with more globalization, more free trade, and more recognition of what poorer countries really need (markets and the end of subsidies). CAP stands out as an anomalous anachronism, out of place with modern attitudes and the modern world. The UK government has admirably recognized that fact, and bravely put it on the agenda. Now we want results.