We need to stand by CAP reform says MEP. (Stoke On Trent Liberal Democrats)

Stoke On Trent Liberal Democrats <jpr160@tiscali.co.uk>

We need to stand by CAP reform says MEP.

November 11, 2008 11:46 AM
Originally published by Liz Lynne MEP

Liz Lynne MEP has today said that her parliamentary colleagues need to stand firm on the notion of real reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.

The LibDem European Agricultural Spokesperson for England and Wales made her comments in the run up to a crucial vote on the CAP Health Check in the Parliament that will see some MEPs attempt to draw back the reform agenda and constraint efforts to change those CAP rules that distort competition.

Proposals by the European Commission would see an increase in decoupling measures that seek to break the link between production and subsidy which in the past has lead to 'food mountains' as farmers are paid to produce unneeded food. The proposals would also see a transferral of money between the three pillars of the CAP, with more payments going towards rural development than towards production.

However, amendments voted on in the Agricultural Committee in the Parliament have sought to curtail the Commission's plans, with a scaling back of decoupling measures as well as a far smaller increase in milk quotas than the Commission proposed as a way of gradually phasing out the scheme by 2015. Members of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats Group, of which the LibDems are part, on the Committee opposed the amendments but were outvoted due to a coalition between the Socialist Group and the EPP Groups.

Speaking today Liz said that it was vital that the Parliament does not retreat from the goal of trade liberalisation, but instead allows for a proper health check that will seek to create a fairer, more free-market CAP:

"The Commission's proposals are, in general very good ones, they seek to uphold the free trade values that form the bedrock of why the EU was founded. It is deeply unfortunate that many of those MEPs on the Agricultural Committee have sought to undermine this stance in favour of short-sited panic legislation.

"Measures such as decoupling will, in general, help farmers, both in the UK and the rest of Europe, as it breeds greater diversity of products and an end to over production. We do of course have to be careful to ensure that smaller areas, such as the hill farming sector, are given a smooth transition towards a free agricultural market, but the principle of decoupling should be at the fore front of the CAP health check.

"We cannot afford more years of government-led trade distortion, which undermines the liberalisation agenda and will ultimately be bad for farmer's right across Europe. Acting now to curtail wasteful production, complicated payment schemes and pointless quotas will mean a more productive, more profitable farming industry in future."

ENDS