The European Commission Must Not Lose its Focus on Agriculture
12 February 2010
At the recent Congress of European Young Farmers in Seville, Spain, (3rd – 6th Feb) Macra na Feirme’s Agriculture Affairs committee chairman, Kieran McEvoy was alarmed that the European Commission has published a consultation document titled ‘Agenda 2020’ which contains President Barosso’s vision of where the EU should be in 2020, without reference to agriculture or a Common Agricultural Policy. The final strategy document will be put to the EU's Heads of State and government at their spring 2010 meeting.
In support of this, Mr Rocamora, Secretary of State for Rural Environment and Water in Spain, raised a worrying concern relating to the stance being adopted by the EU Commission on its future policies as articulated in the document ‘Agenda 2020’. The absence of reference to the tried and tested instruments of a Common Agricultural Policy and Cohesion Funds is a serious flaw in this document. These instruments have been the building blocks of the European Union and no good reason has been advanced for their omission. At the congress Macra emphasised that the production of food is of absolute importance to Europe and a Common Agricultural Policy is the best means of safeguarding food production. While it is agreed that food must be produced in an environmentally friendly manner, the first priority must be the security of food production.
Paolo de Castro, the President of European Parliament’s Agricultural Committee stated that a revised Common Agricultural Policy was a priority within the European Union. Macra welcomed the fact that speakers from the European Commission reiterated that any attempts to renationalise the CAP was not in the interests of European consumers and farmers. Georg Hausler, Head of Cabinet for the Agriculture Commissioner argued that the priorities of a revised CAP would be food security, sustainability, competitiveness and environmental protection. Macra believe that under Pillar 1 of CAP, Single Farm Payment must be targeted at active farmers who address the above CAP priorities as active farmers will ultimately by the drivers in generating economic activity in rural Europe.
Pictured at the recent CEJA CAP 2013 Seminar in Seville Spain are, Edmond Connolly, Macra na Feirme CEO, Dino Sozzi of Syngenta, Kieran McEvoy, Chair of Macras Agricultural Affairs committee, Eric Driver ,Carlow NCR and Derry Dillion, Agriculture Affairs and Rural Development Manager.
