CAP priorities outlined at European Paliament

NFU Deputy President Meurig Raymond paid a visit to the European Parliament last week to set out the NFU's priorities for the "Health Check" of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The European Parliament will play a key role in influencing the final shape of any changes that are decided by Europe's farming Ministers.

As part of a series of meetings with key MEPs, Mr Raymond met the Parliament's 'rapporteur' on the Health Check, Portuguese MEP Luis Manuel Capoulas Santos. Speaking after the meeting, Mr Raymond said: "The Health Check represents an important opportunity to bring some much needed simplification and uniformity to the CAP.

"While the last reforms in 2003 made a number of positive changes, they did allow for some distortions, be they partial aid recoupling or higher rates of modulation for some farmers such as those in the UK.

"The European Parliament's opinion on the Health Check is likely to be very influential and I welcomed the opportunity to discuss our priorities face to face with the rapporteur".

Mr Capoulas Santos said that he fully recognised the role the NFU had to play in the development of the policy. Speaking of his meeting with Mr Raymond, he said: "I look forward to the contribution from British farmers, which I hope can constitute a positive input to a balanced compromise solution amidst the different standpoints in the European Parliament."