RURAL DEVELOPMENT WAS CRUCIAL TO THE FUTURE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL AREAS BUT FUNDING FOR IT SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE TAKEN OUT OF THE POCKETS OF FARMERS.
This point was made by Marian Harkin MEP to Agriculture Commissioner Fischer Boel, when she spoke in the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Tuesday, February 13th, 2007 on a report opposing the introduction of voluntary modulation in relation to the Single Farm Payment.
Marian Harkin said:
”I fully support the Rapporteur in rejecting these proposals. In effect these proposals would mean the transfer of 20% of funds from direct payments and market supports of the CAP to rural development.
“I fully support investment in rural development, indeed I think it is crucial if rural areas are to contribute to the Lisbon Agenda but this investment cannot be out of the pockets of farmers. You said earlier tonight that you were afraid of the dangers to rural development if we reject this proposal but what of the dangers to agriculture if this proposal were to proceed.
“Speaking of the pockets of farmers, this proposal would be a drastic cut in some farmers’ incomes.
“If we take the initial amount of the direct payments as 100%, subtract 5% for compulsory modulation, a further 8% approximately for the accession of Romania and Bulgaria – they are in no way responsible for the fact that we didn’t make proper funding provision. If you then take a further 20% for voluntary modulation. These farmers will have lost 33% or 1/3 of what was promised under the reform of CAP. But this isn’t just money, voluntary modulation as propose would distort competition between member states.
“It would in effect be a re-nationalisation of the CAP and jeopardising of the security of food production in the EU.
“Commissioner, I know we both agree that Agriculture needs stability – when you came to the Irish Parliament last year, you said and I quote “I wish to give farmers in Ireland and the rest of the EU as much stability as possible”. Commissioner, this is an uncertain and difficult time for farmers, for, if they were to listen to the debate in Parliament here today with Commissioner Mandelson earlier speaking of further flexibility in the context of the WTO and tonight the possibility of the re-nationalisation of CAP, they would even be more uncertain. Commissioner – this house and European farmers are relying on you to support them on this issue. You told us you know and understand our concerns – those concerns have been articulated very clearly here tonight – we await a positive response”, Marian Harkin concluded.
