Farmers have their chance to express views
on the CAP reforms and how it The Minister
responsible for agriculture in Northern
Ireland, Mr. Ian Pearson, has issued papers
marking the launch of the formal
consultations covering the Luxembourg
agreement on the reform of the Common
Agricultural Policy. Commenting on this launch, Ian Pearson MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary
of State with responsibility for Agriculture and Rural Development, said: “The
CAP reform agreement marks a significant step in the evolution of European
agricultural support. Not only will it alter the entire basis of direct payments to
farmers, it provides for an unprecedented level of regional flexibility in terms of
policy options to address local needs. Taken together, these pose a very
significant challenge to us all, both in the policy choices we must make and in
making the transition to a new support framework.”
The Minister continued: “There is still some way to go before all of the
detailed EU legislation underpinning this agreement is finalised in Brussels.
However, we must move forward now to consider the broad policy options at
our disposal. The more detailed implementation aspects can be considered
at a later phase of this rolling consultation process once we have decided on
the broad framework we want to see established in Northern Ireland.
“In order to inform this initial debate, DARD will be staging a major conference
of the Wider Group of the Rural Stakeholder Forum at Loughry College on 8
October 2003. At that, we hope to be able to provide further information.
