Smith defends EU agricultural policy as ‘essential’ ahead of health check
“The CAP is an essential part of the EU’s policy structure and this is a view shared by the great majority of member states,” he said.
Mr Smith said that the CAP delivers real benefits not only to farmers, but also to consumers and to society in general.
“Irish and European agriculture has provided our consumers with a supply of safe, high quality food, and the great majority of people recognise that this is a valuable and worthwhile contribution to our society. The CAP is a vital element in ensuring this. The CAP has also helped to ensure that agriculture is carried out in a manner that is socially and environmentally sustainable,” he said.
“CAP payments provide a vital measure of income stabilisation for small family farms. They provide a measure of income certainty which allows the farm family to plan how best to combine its on- and off-farm economic activity to ensure its long-term viability. Many European small family farms would simply not survive without the support of the CAP.”
The minister, who was speaking in advance of negotiations with the Council of Agriculture Ministers on the CAP Health Check, said that his priorities included:
nSeeking sufficient milk quota increases and appropriate market management arrangements to ensure a “soft landing” in preparation for the expiry of quotas in 2015.
nEnsuring clear, predictable decisions are taken on milk quotas.
nSeeking further simplification of the single payment scheme and cross compliance.
nEnsuring national discretion in the adjustment of the single payment scheme and the operation of specific supports funded from the single payment ceiling.
“The meeting this week will be a very important one at which the French presidency will be trying to get agreement on a wide range of key outstanding issues in the talks . . . I am clear on my priorities and will be pushing them strongly,” he said.
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