04/05/2010

Agriculture Remains Top EU Priority

Herman Van Rompuy, the new European President, has assured local agricultural journalists that farming remains a high priority with decision makers in the European Union, as Rodney Magowan reports.

Mr McGowan, who is pictured (on right) meeting the top EC politician, said this comment by the quietly spoken former Belgian Prime Minister charged with chairing EU Council of Ministers meetings follows unease in farming circles at the lack of agricultural content in the EU 2020 strategy plan.

"One third of the 500 million citizens in our European Union across 27 nations live in rural areas, areas where farming is and will remain the main economic dynamo driving rural development," the President added.

"Farming is the oldest human economic activity and farmers deserve a fair income, a return they must receive in an era when food shortages face a still rapidly growing human population.

"A population with ever higher aspirations, not least as regards an improved western style diet," he said.

Continuing the European President, a politician respected in Belgium for his thoughtfulness and quiet courtesy, said the Common Agricultural Policy was at the most important crossroads since 1957.

As plans were made for the CAP beyond 2013 the views of farmers and farmers’ organisations were being sought.

President Van Rompuy noted that of total European GDP just 1.4% is spent on supporting farming and other rural enterprises through the CAP budget.

"Farming faces many challenges as concerns over food security grow, not least an ageing rural workforce and a shortage of young people coming into a farm and food sector, which employs over 30 million EU citizens.

"Thus any development of the CAP must take into account the role of farming in creating real rural development, providing a secure source of food, enhancing the environment and helping contain climate change," he said.

"All this at a time when the EU is falling behind other economic power blocs in recovering from the recession.

"According to the IMF, the International Monetary Fund, the EU economy is growing by a mere 1% when figures for other areas include China 10%, India 8.8% and the USA 3.1%." he concluded.

Figures, Herman Van Rompuy said, showed the need for faster, better decision making by the European Council of Ministers, the increasingly powerful European Parliament and bureaucrats in the European Commission.

(BMcC/GK)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

14 November 2024
Minister Murphy Raises Economic Concerns in London
Economy Minister Conor Murphy today raised a number of key economic issues with British Government Ministers during a visit to London.
14 November 2024
Ministers Recognise Work Of US Special Envoy Joe Kennedy
The First Minister and deputy First Minister has thanked U.S. Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs, Joe Kennedy III, for his contribution to furthering economic links with the U.S. The Special Envoy is in Belfast for a series of events marking his term in office.
25 November 2024
SDLP Seeks Views On Proposed Regional Jobs, Skills and Investment Bill
The SDLP has announced the launch of a public consultation of their proposed Regional Jobs, Skills and Investment Bill, describing it as an opportunity to rebalance the economy across the North. The consultation opened online today and will close on Sunday 16th February.
21 February 2003
Union meeting to vote on future of rural schools
The leader of the Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) is to address the NAS/UWT union on Friday night over the exodus of farm workers that is threatening the future of a number of rural schools across Northern Ireland.
23 August 2024
DAERA Minister Commits To New 'Farming with Nature Package'
DAERA Minister Andrew Muir has committed to the development of a new 'Farming with Nature Package', during a visit to see first hand what Nature Friendly Farming looks like in practice in Northern Ireland.