‘Funds needed for EU rural policy’
Some member states want to pay just 1% of GNP to fund the union while others are calling for a budget of 1.14% of GNP.
Speaking in Brussels at a meeting of the European Parliament agriculture committee, she said: “Let me be quite clear. If the ‘1% club’ get their way, then rural development will pay the price. That would deal a blow to the most forward-looking component of the CAP.”
Ms Boel said the CAP component is going to deliver benefits to society as a whole in terms of new jobs, environment and a real perspective for rural areas beyond 2013.
“A lot is at stake“, she said, noting a general support in the Agriculture Committee for the overall concept of the proposed rural policy and for the need to secure the funds to implement it properly.
She said the 2003 CAP reform has prepared the ground for the EU’s agricultural sector to free itself from production-specific constraints and to move towards a full market orientation.
She said the proposed rural development policy offers the tools to accompany this process and contribute together with member states to support their farmers, their forestry sector and farm processing industry in restructuring.
But Ms Boel said funds will be needed to implement this policy.
The commission has proposed an amount of €88.75 billion for the new single rural development fund over the period 2007-2013. But in total almost €100bn would be available.
