By Tim Hirsch BBC environment correspondent

Fischler (left was not able to secure a deal

European Union Agriculture Ministers have failed to reach a deal on proposals to reform the system of farm subsidies.

Several days and nights of haggling in Luxembourg ended in deadlock, with France being blamed by officials for blocking progress.

EU agriculture commissioner Franz Fischler was not able to persuade some members to accept a compromise that would weaken the link between subsidies and production.

The ministers have agreed to meet again next week.

These marathon talks are now running into a third week and even if agreement is eventually reached, it is clear that reforms to the CAP will fall far short of the radical change favoured by the European Commission and countries such as Britain.

Under pressure from governments including the French, Irish and Spanish, concessions have already been made which allow countries to keep some of the subsidies which reward farmers for producing more food - criticised for damaging developing countries and the environment.

But as agreement seemed close, EU officials privately accused the French of suddenly hardening their position and moving backwards in the final hours of the talks.

They suspect direct intervention from President Jacques Chirac, who is strongly opposed to major change in the system which benefits farmers in France more than anywhere else in Europe.