Dairy UK Unveils CAP Reform Recommendations
UK - Dairy UK has published its policy briefing covering the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the recommendations of the High Level Experts Group (HLEG) on Milk.
8 September 2010
2 minute read
Speaking at the annual Dairy UK conference, Jim Begg, Director General of Dairy UK, expressed his concerns over the future changes to the CAP.
The policy briefing, put together by Peter Dawson, Poicy Director of Dairy UK is a booklet to help communication between UK dairy farmers, politicians and lobbying groups.
Recent CAP talks focus on the smaller family farms and environmental benefits, which is of great concern to Dairy UK.
The focus of these talks are at odds with the way the industry appears to be moving, said Mr Dawson, which is why it is important we are actively involved in all communication regarding the future of CAP.
Setting out Dairy UK's vision for the CAP, Mr Dawson said that it is important that CAP rests on a dual rationale of sustaining the productive capability of agriculture and providing public support for the provision of public goods.
He says that Dairy UK is against any renationalisation of the CAP, and that discretionary expenditure by Member States should be avoided.
The CAP must be market orientated, with Pillar 2 focusing on competitiveness, the environment and climate change.
Mr Dawson said that with regard to the HLEG recommendations, the main concern is the talk over contracts.
In the UK, contracts are already in place, any action by the European Commission could inhibit the evolution of contractural relationships in the UK, he said.
The UK dairy industry already has comprehensive marketing arrangements and forums for industry collaboration and consultation. Mr Dawson said it is not clear how Inter-professional organisations would make a postitive contribution.
Mr Begg said that despite the concerns, the HLEG was a worthwhile exercise. Once quota is abolished, new circumstances will face all EU producers, it is therefore important to look at the consequences of this.
However, the UK dairy industry is already ahead of the EU in a number of areas, it is therefore important to ensure that changes to the CAP do not prohibit any progress already made, he concluded.
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