Meeting reiterates support for Common Agricultural Policy

CNFU President Peter Kendall and Gerd Sonnleitner, president of the Deutscher Bauernverband (DBV), reaffirmed their support for the progressive evolution of the Common Agricultural Policy when they met in London this week.

Both leaders expressed their belief that CAP reform needs to allow farmers to respond to changing market signals while providing support to counter the possible effects of market volatility.

The two organisations expressed their strong support for further decoupling of support payments as part of the CAP Health Check, to be decided this autumn, and sought to remind politicians across the European Union that today's concerns about food prices and food security mean now is neither the time to scrap the CAP nor to go back to the old days of direct subsidisation. They also voiced concern about the proposed Article 68 measures which they saw as a backward step in the evolution of the CAP.

In a joint statement they said: "We have particular concerns for the future of the dairy sector, with milk production falling alarmingly in the UK and prices having been slashed in Germany. The phasing out of milk quotas will bring greater competitive pressure on the EU dairy sectors and need to develop markets to create better industry structures, greater consolidation and improved milk contracts. We agree that measures will be needed to support dairying in disadvantaged regions.

"We will join forces to lobby against proposals that could significantly reduce the number of pesticides available to farmers and growers when they return to the European Parliament this autumn. We believe that the sustainable use of plant protection products is integral to producing safe, affordable and abundant food particularly at a time of growing shortages across the globe and a burgeoning population.

"We stand firm on the Soils Directive. Europe's land and soils are already subject to high levels of environmental protection as a result of legislative measures like CAP cross-compliance and farmers' own efforts. There is absolutely no need or cause for further consideration of the directive and attempts to reignite the debate must be buried."