The Farmers' Union of Wales today described a series of meetings with MEPs at the heart of decision-making on Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform as extremely constructive.
During a two-day visit, FUW president Emyr Jones, deputy president Glyn Roberts and senior members of the union's policy department met key members of the EU agriculture committee including Portugese MEP and Rapporteur for the CAP reform proposals Luis Capoulas Santos, his shadow Rapporteur for direct payments Mairead McGuinness and Welsh MEPs.
During the high level talks the FUW underlined the significant impact the Commission's proposals would have on farming in Wales.
"Whilst the greening of pillar 1 has quite rightly become a major focus of debate amongst farmers and policy makers, we also used the opportunity to highlight the fundamental problems current proposals to use claims made in 2014 as the basis for allocating future payment entitlements would create in Wales," said Mr Jones.
Discussions on issues such as the need for a realistic transition period from historic to flat rate payments and the need for Member States and regions to have the flexibility to adapt the Regulations to reflect farming practise were also highlighted, said Mr Jones.
"The FUW is now utilising the European Union's 'period of reflection' to actively inform and engage MEPs who have a crucial role in shaping the CAP post-2013, thus ensuring that the major issues of concern to Welsh farmers are fully considered from the very start of the CAP negotiations," added Mr Jones.