Budget must be protected Cope



A leading EU delegation met today with the Minister of Agriculture, Brendan Smyth TD, farmers and industry bodies including John Bryan from the IFA to discuss the future shape of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).


George Lyon, MEP will draft a report for the Agriculture Committee of the European Parliament setting out the priorities of the European Parliament for the upcoming reform of the CAP. MEPs, Marian Harkin, Liam Aylward and Pat the cope Gallagher accompanied him on this trip.


George Lyon, MEP: "The key message from these meetings has been the need for a strong CAP. With 1.8 billion coming in each year there is a strong desire to see that continue. The threat of substantial cuts would clearly be a major threat to Irish agriculture and could result in job losses and land abandonment. It was made crystal clear also about the issue of ancillary jobs which amount to roughly 20% of the economy. I am a farmer and I feel I understand acutely the issues raised by the Farmers Unions and the Irish Government today and will take this into account in drafting my report".


Pat the Cope Gallagher, MEP added: "It is absolutely essential that the principle of CAP be fully protected. We will do everything possible to protect the budget post 2013 - family farms must be protected"


Mr Lyon will present the first draft of his report to the Agriculture Committee before the end of March with adoption by the European Parliament expected in July.



ENDS