MEP speaks on voluntary modulation
14 November 2006
Speech by Jim Allister MEP:
"Voluntary modulation is but fancy phraseology for a very unpleasant practice, namely government grab of farmers’ money. As Mrs McGuiness has said, there is nothing voluntary about it, certainly in respect of those from whom the money is to be extracted, namely the farmers.
The consequence is a very unbalanced rural development programme right across Europe, both in how it is financed and then in how it is delivered. That, of course, is then discriminatory against the farmers in those Member States that practice this madness of voluntary modulation. In my country we are already seeing the consequences, with delays in the intended LFA payments.
Voluntary modulation is something to be resisted. I welcome the stance of the committee and the stance of this House when it rejects it and I urge the Commission to be robust in forcing a change of policy by the Council on this matter."
