Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany said in an interview released on Thursday that Hungary was open to a revision of European Union agricultural policy before 2013. Gyurcsany, who was visiting France, told Friday's edition of Le Figaro newspaper that the positions of France and Hungary on EU farm policy were very close. "But we are open to an eventual revision of Common Agricultural Policy in the second half of the period 2007-2013," he told the paper. France is the biggest beneficiary of the farm policy, which EU leaders agreed in 2002 to freeze at its current level until 2013, and has made it clear it is not prepared to accept any earlier changes. Agricultural policy is the main sticking point in talks on the EU budget for 2007 to 2013. Britain holds the EU's rotating presidency and has vowed to try for an agreement while it is in the EU chair. France wants Britain to cut a rebate it receives from EU coffers but London says it will only accept a reduction if the 25-nation bloc agrees to a fundamental review of its expenditure leading to lower farm spending. Hungary was one of four EU newcomers to sign a statement in September urging Britain to broker a quick deal in budget talks.
