Coveney urges EU bodies to guard food security and natural resources

All three EU institutions must work together to ensure CAP reforms underpin the goals of preserving food production security, sustainable use of natural resources and supporting viable rural areas, said Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney.

Mr Coveney urged senior representatives of the EU’s Parliament, Commission and Council attending yesterday’s 2012 Food Forum for Agriculture Conference in Brussels to find an acceptable mechanism for the distribution of pillar one and pillar two CAP funds between member states.

Mr Coveney said: “The new Financial Framework for the EU budget for 2014 to 2020 imposes a natural deadline for decisions on reform. If we are to have the reformed CAP in place to coincide with the new EU budget period, the time is fast approaching for decisions.