Sheep sector ‘needs more funding’

THE sheep sector in Europe needs increased funding, according to a year-long study conducted for the European Parliament by Ireland East member Liam Aylward.

An additional payment for traditional mountain sheep is one of the proposals put forward, followings a wide consultative process.

Mr Aylward said this extra payment is necessary to preserve sheep in sensitive areas. He suggested it could be financed directly by national governments, or co-financed by them and the European Union.

He said financial support should also be given to the sheep sector via any unused funds under the second pillar (rural development) of the CAP.

His 10-point action plan calls for a new EU implementation Task Force to oversee the practical reforms needed to make the European sheep sector viable, competitive and profitable.

It says support must be given to allow member states the right to introduce a new Environmental Sheep Maintenance Scheme which would allow sheep farmers to be paid on a per-ewe basis and an EU regulation for the labelling of sheepmeat product.

The Aylward Report says the European Commission and the EU Council of Agriculture Ministers must review the introduction of the compulsory electronic identification system for sheep intended for December 2009.

There will be an exchange of views on the report at an agriculture committee of the European Parliament meeting on May 6.

MEPS can table amendments by May 7, and a vote on the report will be taken by the agriculture committee of the European Parliament on May 27. All MEPs will then vote on the report at a meeting of the full plenary session of the European Parliament in July.

IFA Sheep Committee chairman Henry Burns said the Aylward Report makes it very clear that the sheep sector is in critical decline and there is a mass exodus of producers.

He said the report calls for urgent action to be taken by the EU Commission and the Council of Ministers.