Allister presses cross-compliance issues
13 April 2007
At the Agriculture Committee of the European Parliament in Brussels on Thursday (12th April), Jim Allister MEP raised with the Commission representative issues arising from its recent cross-compliance paper.
In particular, Mr Allister pressed for delivery on the suggested relaxations, both in terms of inspections and penalties. "Proportionality is what is required", said the MEP, "both in the notification and manner of inspections and in dealing with any perceived infringements." Citing a case where a Northern Ireland farmer had his SFP jeopardised over a 41p discrepancy, the Ulster MEP said a bit of old fashioned common sense would go a long way. Some inspectors, he said, themselves needed a course in compliance with basic man management, because their attitude provoked conflict and resentment where none need exist.
Mr Allister also raised the need to definitively resolve the duplicate field issue, urging maximum flexibility in the conditions governing this issue.
Speaking of the Commission official's response to his probings, Mr Allister said he was disappointed to note that already limitations and caveats were creeping into the suggestion that 14 days notice could be given for inspections. "I intend to return to this issue when the Committee holds a full hearing on the cross-compliance paper on 8 May", said Mr Allister.
