Europe still open to flexibility in farm payments, says IFA

The European Parliament’s agricultural committee is still open to Ireland’s call for flexibility in the administration of farm payments, according to IFA president John Bryan.

Having met with the committee’s chairman, Paulo De Castro, in Strasbourg yesterday, Mr Bryan welcomed the strong support he expressed on securing a full agricultural budget for the CAP post-2013.

The support for the call for flexibility is a welcome development, said the IFA. In addition, Mr Bryan said Mr De Castro and his committee support the need for any new CAP reforms to help member states resolve the issues on greening and market supports.

Mr Bryan said that the committee members are aware of the problems the CAP reform plans pose for Irish farmers and the need to find solutions in any final outcome.

He said: “The parliament’s agricultural committee made it clear that European agricultural production, food security, strong rural development and employment must be at the centre of the final CAP reform outcome.”

At a meeting with Irish MEPs, Mr Bryan provided a comprehensive briefing on the issues and concerns of Irish farmers and the agricultural sector with the Ciolos CAP 2013 plans.

He said that it is vitally important that the key issues for Irish farmers on the CAP budget, the rejection of flat payments, the payment model, greening, the 2014 reference year and other issues are fully reflected in all the communication and reports from the parliament on CAP.