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Nicholson Says EU Budget Stepping up a Gear in Brussels

Conservative and Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson has said that the EU budget debate over future agriculture funding is stepping up a gear in Brussels and that the battle is on to see what slice of the EU's overall budget will be given to agriculture and rural development.

In a statement Mr Nicholson said,

"Last week, the EU published its latest Draft Budget Review, which looks at how the EU will be financed and what it will pay for over the next decade.

"Agriculture and rural development, which right now accounts for 40% of all EU spending, is likely to see its budget slashed dramatically. In addition there could be big changes to the way money is allocated within the CAP, with environmental measures now likely to challenge for the lion's share of funding in the future. There is even talk that there will be a third pillar solely for environmental and climate change measures in addition to pillar one; direct payments and pillar two; rural development funding.

"However, there are no done deals yet and the budget review proper won't begin in full until the new Commission is in place next year. The Commission's Draft Budget Review is a general framework for future discussions rather than a firm policy document, but the intention is clear, agriculture will be under massive pressure to maintain its present position within the overall EU Budget and all of us with an interest in the future of agriculture must begin to get our heads round this debate.

"The most worrying thing however is the loss of the 'Common' part of the CAP if more discretion is given to Member States to co finance direct payments to farmers.

"Given the twin challenges of food security and energy security we need to maintain a strong CAP, which addresses these issues and acknowledges consumer concerns about food quality."

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