ULSTER Farmers' Union President Graham Furey has told Farming Life that the recent recommendation by the European Parliament of Dacian Ciolos as the new EU Commissioner for Agriculture is a critical issue for local farmers.
He made his comments in the wake of the Commissioner designate's appearance before the Parliament's Agriculture Committee on Friday last.
Mr Furey added: "Often, political appointments in Brussels may seem far removed from family farming in Northern
Ireland, but the fact is that very important decisions will be made in Brussels in the coming years and the new EU Agriculture Commissioner will have a significant influence on this and on the well being of farms in Northern Ireland."
Mr Furey went on to point out that the new Commissioner would have several important issues in his in-tray.
He continued: "The first task will be to secure a strong budget for the CAP in the upcoming EU Budget negotiations. We all know how critical the Single Farm Payment is to local farm businesses and we need the new Commissioner to safeguard the CAP budget.
"Discussions are also beginning on the next CAP reform in 2013 and the equitable distribution of support payments will be a critical part of those discussions.
"The Commissioner designate gave a competent performance at the EU Parliament hearing last week and we were reassured to hear him commit to working hard to ensure an adequate CAP budget and maintaining direct payments in order to provide financial stability for farmers and to deal with issues of food security."
Dacian Ciolos is a former Minister for Agriculture in Romania. He is a horticultural engineer and, since 2000, has been a member of the Bruge Group – an independent think tank on European agriculture and rural development.
Maurice Maxwell, the European Commission Representative in Northern Ireland, confirmed to Farming Life that Dacian Ciolos is an expert on agriculture, and added: "He is a horticultural engineer and has spent his entire professional life in the area, most notably as Romania's Agriculture Minister from 2007-2008.
"During his three-hour hearing at the European Parliament, Mr Ciolos was able to convince MEPs from across the political spectrum of his suitability to the role.
"He will bring a wealth of experience to the agriculture portfolio."
