The Farmers’ Union of Wales has welcomed statements by Assembly rural affairs minister Elin Jones and her Scottish and Northern Irish counterparts which are broadly supportive of the union’s views on Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform.
During the FUW’s quarterly council meeting today, FUW president Gareth Vaughan said: “I commend our own Minister and the Scottish and Northern Irish administrations for recognising the importance of the CAP to our respective countries and for arguing in favour of a fair and proportionate share of the budget, flexibility to respond to specific local needs, and a reduction in bureaucracy.
“There are, no doubt, detailed areas relating to the CAP where there may be disagreement, but I am glad that the policies of the FUW and the devolved administrations are in broad agreement regarding the overarching principles.”
Mr Vaughan was reacting to a joint statement by the devolved administrations which highlights the importance of agriculture in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and calls on the UK Government to engage with the devolved administrations in order to develop an agreed UK negotiating position reflecting the different interests across all areas of the UK.
The statement also called for the retention of direct payments and market support measures, and a fairer share of EU Pillar 2 funding.
“I believe that the CAP should be viewed as a tailor-made toolbox with which we can address the challenges that growing populations, climate change, rising sea levels and peak oil production represent to European food security,” said Mr Vaughan.
“These challenges are imminent and will significantly affect future generations. Farming families lie at the heart of finding a solution to these challenges, and this is something which the various Celtic administrations have clearly recognised,” he added.