Committee Concerned with Impact of 'Green' CAP Proposals

Session: 2011/2012

Date: 06 March 2012

Reference: AGR 11/11/12

As a result of concerns with draft proposals in the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP), the Assembly Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development met with local stakeholders today to discuss the impact the ‘green’ proposals could have.  The proposals aim to benefit the climate and environment by making agriculture more sustainable and by financially rewarding farmers who follow certain agricultural practices.

Michael Hamell, Head of the European Commission for the Environment’s Agriculture, Forests and Soil Department presented the proposals at the event which provided an opportunity for the Committee and stakeholders to question and discuss the issues.

Committee Chair, Paul Frew said: “These proposals need very careful consideration and it was important for us to meet with people from the agriculture and rural communities who will be affected by them. 

“We believe the proposals lack innovation and require further work to safeguard both the agri-food sector and the environment.”

Deputy Chair, Delores Kelly added: “It was important for the Committee and stakeholders to meet with Mr Hammel so we could raise issues of concern directly at a European level. 

“This event was an opportunity for us to engage with the European Commission who published the proposals and ensure the interests of the agriculture and rural communities across Northern Ireland are represented and taken into account.”

The European Commission published the legislative proposals in October 2011.  These currently being considered by the European Parliament and Council and are scheduled to come into force after 2013.

ENDS

We caught up with Committee Chair, Mr Paul Frew to find out more about the event and what impact these proposals will have on the farming and rural communities throughout Northern Ireland.

The Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development met with stakeholders today to discuss the potential impact of draft ‘green’ proposals in the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP).

The Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development met with stakeholders today to discuss the potential impact of draft ‘green’ proposals in the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP).  The proposals aim to benefit the climate and environment by making agriculture more sustainable and by financially rewarding farmers who follow certain agricultural practices.

Pictured at the event are: (l-r) Mr Simon Hamilton MLA, Deputy Chair of the Assembly Environment Committee; Ms Anna Lo MLA, Chair of the Assembly Environment Committee; Mr Michael Hamell, Head of the European Commission for the Environment’s Agriculture, Forests and Soil Department; Mr Paul Frew MLA, Chair of the Assembly Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development; and Ms Dolores Kelly MLA, Deputy Chair of the Assembly Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development.

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