EU to overhaul agriculture policy

THE EU Commission will today unveil a proposed shake-up of the Common Agriculture Policy.

But last night the Irish Farmers Association president Padraig Walshe said the Health Check to be announced in Brussels by Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel was secondary in significance to the agricultural cuts being offered in the world trade talks by Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson.

“Any initiatives to be announced by Mariann Fischer Boel would be meaningless as EU agriculture would be decimated by the Mandelson proposals,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Mandelson said in an interview at the World Economic Forum conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, yesterday, that more advances have been made on overcoming differences on agriculture in the trade talks in Geneva than on manufactured goods.

Mr Mandelson said negotiators have made progress in their efforts to clinch a deal on agriculture, and that will be reflected in a new text for release this week.

“Very substantial progress has been made, and that will be reflected in the new text,” he said.

Mairead McGuinness, Ireland East Fine Gael MEP, has meanwhile called on Taoiseach Brian Cowen to commit to using the veto on an unacceptable global trade deal that would sacrifice agriculture and the agri-food sector.

“By doing so he would prove that he is prepared to protect and defend the interests of agriculture, the rural economy and workers in the food sector all of whom have very justified concerns.

“On Thursday, the Taoiseach will address the Forum on Europe. This is an ideal opportunity to clear up the confusion and address the real and genuine concerns of farmers and agri-business,” she said.