Successful Parliamentary Dairy Farming Delegation to Brussels
UK - This week a delegation of seven MPs went to Brussels where they met with the Agricultural Commissioner Marianne Fischer Boel, as well as Members of the European Parliament and the British Agricultural Bureau.
5 April 2007
2 minute read
The delegation, comprising members of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Dairy Farming, chaired by Shrewsbury & Atcham MP Daniel Kawczynski, took the decision to visit the Commissioner after the lack of response to problems facing the dairy industry by the Government in London. The issues raised concerned the price of milk paid to farmers, bovine tuberculosis and the scandal surrounding the Single Farm Payment scheme.
The MPs, who included representatives from three different political parties, heard the EU Agriculture Commissioner strongly criticise the British Secretary of State, David Miliband, for his inability to accept that the UK dairy industry is part of a global market. She suggested that the current UK competition rules are focused too strongly on a British market and not on the European and international markets, which directly affects the ability of our farmers to be competitive.
The delegation was told by the Commissioner that it is up to the industry to reform itself, but that she does recognise the restrictions put in place by the British Government - restrictions that are different throughout Europe. The main focus was that there is a difficulty in addressing the call for many small cooperatives and businesses to merge, which would allow them the power to ask for a higher milk price against supermarket giants such as Tesco’s and Sainsbury’s.
Over the chaotic Single Farm payment scheme, the Commissioner was quick to defend the need to impose fines on the British Government, as other countries have also been fined for varying reasons. She did, however, point out that it was her office which forced Mr Milliband, the British Secretary of State, to abide by the dates set out in the agreement, a fact which has led to the fines, but will ensure farmers will receive compensation for the lateness of their payments.
Source: Stackyard
