Pressure on Brussels is starting to mount
Harry Sinclair (centre), the new UFU president, with deputy presidents Ian Marshal and Barclay Bell at the Ulster Farmers' Union annual meeting, Greenmount. Picture: Cliff Donaldson
ULSTER Farmers’ Union President Harry Sinclair has told Farming Life that EU Heads of State could agree on a long term budget for Europe at a meeting taking place on November 21st.
“If agreement is not reached at that stage, there will be a requirement for a follow up meeting in early December. However, the omens look good that a deal on the budget will be arrived at before Christmas,” he said.
“I have been heartened by the soundings coming out of both Germany and France over recent weeks to the effect that the EU’s current funding levels must be maintained.
“The last thing agriculture needs at the present time is a cut in the levels of support it receives from Brussels.”
Mr Sinclair went on to point out that securing a deal on the budget prior to Christmas opens the way for the EU Commission, Farm Ministers and the European Parliament to push for a CAP reform deal during the first half of 2013.
“It’s important for local agriculture that the CAP reform negotiations are completed while Ireland hosts the Presidency of the EU,” he stressed.
“All the groupings that will be involved in securing the finalised CAP deal have signalled their intention to reach agreement, if at all possible, during the early months of 2013.
“There has been a marked increase over recent weeks in the number of stakeholder groups, from all parts of the EU, highlighting their own ideas on how best the CAP can be reformed to meet the needs of the farming industry moving forward.”
He concluded: “The finalised package of measures will be a compromise. The EU Commission will have no option but to amend its original set of proposals in light of the views now being expressed by members of the European Parliament and the various stakeholder groups. The Union’s number one priority remains that of getting the best possible deal for agriculture in Northern Ireland.”
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Weather for Belfast
Wednesday 22 May 2013
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