NFU Cymru welcomes CAP reform proposals
Rural Affairs Minister’s initial Views on the European Commission proposals for reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) have been welcomed by NFU Cymru’s Welsh Council during its meeting today.
Ed Bailey, NFU Cymru President said, "We welcome the statement made by Elin Jones which NFU Cymru feels is largely inline with many of the broad principles that we have previously set out for the reform of the CAP.
"We particularly welcome the Minister’s commitment to lobby for a clear and distinct 2 pillar policy for the CAP with Pillar One clearly focussed on direct measures to support farmers to produce food and with environmental measures supported under Pillar 2.
"NFU Cymru recognises that the direction of travel is clearly towards moving away from the historic Single Payment Scheme model towards an area based payment from 2014 but fully endorse the Assembly Government’s view that there needs to be a lengthy transitional period to manage what may be a difficult period for some farmers in Wales."
During the meeting of NFU Cymru’s ruling body, the guest speaker, NFU President Peter Kendall, said he had found Defra Secretary of State Caroline Spelman’s talk of abolishing direct payments at the Oxford Farming Conference ’clumsy’ and ’unhelpful’.
He added, "It would have been more helpful if she had focused on how the industry could get better returns from the market place."
Mr Kendall said, "The NFU supports a progressive reform of the CAP which helps farmers to become more competitive and productive so that they can meet the big global challenges. It’s important that we have a UK government that is pragmatic and engaged in its approach and that recognises the economic, environmental and political importance of the CAP.
"We believe that the CAP must also continue to do its part for the environment and we share the Welsh Assembly Government and UK government’s views that this is best achieved through targeted rural development programmes rather than more conditions placed on direct payments. We all want to get to a place where farming in Europe can be less dependent on support but there has to be recognition that this requires a long-term strategy that includes addressing the problems that continue to exist in the market – volatility and abuse of power."
Ed Bailey, NFU Cymru President concluded, "Next week NFU Cymru will be submitting evidence directly to the European Commission on a consultation document to assist in the preparation of the impact assessment of the CAP communication of last November. We will share these views with the Welsh Assembly Government with the aim of working together to ensure that through these lengthy negotiations we can influence and ensure the best deal possible for the industry in Wales."
