Allister in Strasbourg for CAP Health Check endgame
20 November 2008
As the Health Check reaches its endgame, MEP’s were in Strasbourg this week, debating the future shape of the CAP until 2013. Jim Allister MEP focused on a number of areas with particular resonance for Northern Ireland agriculture, in his speech to the European Parliament –namely the danger of increasing milk quotas, and doing away with market management tools:
Jim Allister (NI). – “Madam President, in the time available I will focus on the milk sector because – as the Commissioner knows from our meeting last week – it is in trouble in my constituency in light of the plunge in the price. That fall in price strengthens me in my view that abolishing milk quotas is premature and imprudent and will do nothing to stabilise the market.
Likewise, reducing the range of available market-management measures seems to me unnecessary and foolish in light of the instability now affecting the market. We need meaningful market-management opportunities if a bottom is to be put, and to be kept, in this market. Without this, we are headed for anything but a soft landing for milk.
I regret, therefore, that at a time when some Member States are showing flexibility – with France diverting underspend to the sheep sector and Germany talking about a milk fund – the Commission wishes to bind itself by reducing its scope for action by needlessly abrogating market-management measures”.
In the accompanying voting procedure, the Ulster MEP maintained his opposition to any increased modulation deductions for Ulster farmers to fund what the Commission calls the ‘New Challenges’. Under the latest Health Check proposals, additional funds raised from a higher rate of compulsory modulation should be diverted into these 4 challenges, which include climate change, renewable energy, water management and biodiversity. However, only the UK and Portugal already avail of the voluntary modulation option, which although it will be reduced in the same proportion to any increase in compulsory modulation, would not result in additional revenue for new Rural Development priorities for these 2 Member States.
ENDS
