The proposed reform of the Common Agricultural Policy - unveiled by the EU Commission this morning - lacks vision, Scottish Conservative Euro MP Struan Stevenson said in Brussels today.
The reform proposal includes four separate regulations and covers all aspects of agriculture. It will form the basis of the CAP post-2013.
The key aspect is the proposal to withhold 30% of the single farm payment which will only be given to farmers who comply with greening measures, that will include farmers having to leave 7% of their land fallow.
Payments to large farms will be capped and the criteria to qualify for as a Less Favoured Area (LFA) will be reclassified.
Struan Stevenson said:
"This is not a reform of the CAP but a regression. Previous reforms have focused on making agriculture more market orientated. This reform takes a step backwards.
"Farmers just want to do what they do best: produce food. These proposals put yet more obstacles in their way.
"The greening measures will put an excessive burden on farmers and will make it harder for them to produce food. Direct payments are already subject to strict cross compliance rules and the existing agri-environment schemes in the second pillar are effective and should be further developed.
He continued:
"At a time of rising food prices and fears regarding food security it is incredible that the EU wants to pay farmers to keep land fallow. I thought we had seen the end of this ridiculous idea.
"This is a huge reform, but proposals regarding capping payments for large farms and reclassification of less favoured areas (LFAs) are also unwelcome and will do nothing to reduce bureaucracy and help farmers to meet the goal of feeding a growing population.
"The CAP needs to find a balance whereby it can assist farmers to provide good food at affordable prices whilst also delivering environmental benefits. These proposals get the balance completely wrong.
"Ultimately, all this proposal will achieve is a greater reliance on imports of food of a lower quality from outside the EU."
