Fair Deal for Farmers and Consumers Needed from Future CAP
The series of meetings held by the European Parliament’s ALDE Group with farmers’ organisations and politicians in Ireland had revealed an unprecedented level of pressure on farm incomes and a need to ensure a Common Agricultural and Food Policy which would have ‘fairness’ as a core value in the post 2013 era.
This was stated by Marian Harkin MEP who accompanied her European Parliament colleague George Lyon, MEP at a series of meetings involving, the Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith, the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee and the main farmers organisations.
Commenting on the meetings which were also attended by: Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher MEP and Liam Aylward MEP, Marian Harkin said:- “George Lyon is compiling a report on the Common Agriculture Policy for the European Parliament which aims to influence the incoming European Commission’s proposals for the development of the CAP post 2013. This report will be published later this year and as agriculture and rural development are central to Ireland’s economy, the Irish members of the ALDE Group were determined to ensure that the Irish position would be fairly reflected in the Parliament’s proposals for the future development of the CAP.
“Retention of the Single Farm Payment was a core message coming from all politicians and farmers while a major issue for farmers was the excessive control of the food chain by a small number of multiple grocery retailers.
“It was indicated strongly that a mechanism had to be found to ensure fairness to all sectors participating in the food chain which would ultimately ensure food security for EU consumers and stability in incomes for primary producers.
“It was pointed out that the Common Agricultural Policy, which once represented 70% of the EU budget, new accounts for only 40% while a substantial element of this is committed to rural development. An important dimension of the Single Farm Payment is the very beneficial effect this funding has in rural areas while the spending by farmers on public goods elements such as environmental improvements contribute measurably to the overall improvement of Ireland’s environment, it was emphasised.
“This consultation process and the report being compiled by ALDE Group Agriculture Co-ordinator George Lyon is at first stage and we have urged all of those we met this week to continue to refine their needs so that the Lyon Report will contain the kind of proposals for the future development of the Common Agriculture Policy that will benefit Irish farmers, consumers, and improve the environment in the interests of all of the citizens of Ireland”.
