Copa-Cogeca Opposes Cuts In EU Farm Spending
EU - Copa-Cogeca strongly opposes any cuts in farm spending in the planned review of the EU budget, warning a sufficient budget is vital to finance a robust Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in the future.
9 September 2010
2 minute read
The move comes in the run up to EU Commission plans to review the EU budget set to be published next month. Speaking in Brussels, Copa-Cogeca Secretary-General Pekka Pesonen said “A strong CAP is essential in the period post 2013 so that farmers and their cooperatives can contribute to the growing challenges of food security, growth and employment and the fight against climate change. This is at the same time as complying with the EU’s high traceability, animal welfare and environmental standards, which make it more costly for EU farmers to produce. Standards which imports from non-EU countries do not have to meet”.
He continued “Funding for the CAP is already less than one per cent of EU public expenditure and represents only 0.4 per cent of GDP. Research and development are crucial, but more importantly we need to get existing research passed on to farmers and their cooperatives. A strong CAP, with adequate funding, is consequently vital so that farmers have a clear view of their future and can make the necessary investments. Without the right policies in place, Europe will not be able to meet the challenges of growing world food demand, climate change, whilst maintaining a fair income for farmers. Our views have also been supported by many EU Farm Ministers who rejected any farm spending cuts at their meeting earlier this year”.
TheCattleSite News Desk
