Aylward to be honoured by France for efforts to support EU agriculture

FRANCE will honour Ireland East member of the European Parliament Liam Aylward at a ceremony in Paris today.

He will be presented with the “commandeur merite agricole” award in recognition of his political efforts to support the European food and agricultural sectors. It is the highest honour the French government can bestow on a non national.

French agriculture minister Michel Barnier, who will make the presentation, described the Irish politician, a former minister of state, as “one of the most highly respected EU legislators in agricultural matters”.

“The French government has given this award to Liam Aylward, MEP, because of the leadership he has shown on key agricultural issues in Europe over the past four years, including leading the way in Europe in reforming the sheep farming and lamb processing sectors in Europe,” he said.

Ireland’s ambassador to France, Anne Anderson, farm group leaders from EU member states and commission and parliament members will attend the ceremony at the French ministry. Irish and French agriculture departments and industry representatives will also attend.

Mr Aylward, an MEP since 2004, played a key role within the EU institutions to ban Brazilian beef products coming into Europe. He was also instrumental in protecting European beef exports to the Russian market in 2006, when relations had deteriorated.

He produced a highly acclaimed report last year for the European Parliament on reforming the sheep farming and lamb processing sectors.