Conference aims to change direction of debate on CAP
He made the suggestion when announcing that he is to host a one-day conference on the future of the CAP and the rural economy in Tipperary Institute, Thurles, on March 26.
“We must start talking about the opportunities it could provide in terms of securing food supply, fighting climate change and re shaping the rural economy to make it more competitive.
“The new CAP must ensure the competitiveness of Irish agriculture, seek to reduce regulation and be linked to job creation in rural areas.
“However, to achieve that we must start the debate now as it will be the major issue in European Union circles shortly,” he said.
The Labour Party MEP said it would be his aim to bring all the stakeholders together so they could identify the needs and come up with a common strategy to get the best possible deal.
“Our rural communities are highly economically dependent on the future of CAP so we must rise to the challenge of finding a new and better CAP after 2013,” he said.
Mr Kelly said it is vital for both the future of farming and the rural economy that a strong CAP is maintained.
“However, the degree to which CAP is misunderstood by both farmers and the public in general is quite simply astounding.
“We will have to convince both the farming community and the wider community about the true benefits of CAP and what it can achieve for both farming and the rest of society,” he said.
The conference will be addressed by a range of prominent speakers including IFA president, John Bryan, Labour leader Eamon Gilmore and the party’s spokesman on agriculture Sean Sherlock, TD.
A panel of experts from both Europe and Ireland will discuss the future of the CAP and its implications for Ireland.
The use of CAP to regenerate the rural economy and how CAP is negotiated in Europe will be discussed at two workshops.
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