Calls for a fair deal for Welsh farmers in reform of Common Agriculture Policy

31 January 2012

Welsh farmers should get a fair deal and a smooth transition into new funding arrangements under proposed reforms to the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP), according to the National Assembly’s Environment and Sustainability Committee.

It has written two letters, one to the Welsh Government and one to the European Parliament outlining priorities for support to the Welsh agricultural sector and where amendments to the proposals should be made.

Among the recommendations contained in the letters, the committee calls on the Welsh Government to seek clarity from the European Commission as to whether regional administrations will have the power to develop sub-regional payments.

In its letter to the European Parliament, the committee advocates a seven-year timeframe for the new policy, rather than the current proposal of five years, and wants assurances over the flexibility of proposals for small farms and new entrants.

The letters are the result of an inquiry by a task and finish group set up by the Environment and Sustainability Committee and chaired by Vaughan Gething AM.

“From the outset, this inquiry was designed to establish Welsh priorities at the outset of the Common Agriculture Policy renegotiation.

“We gathered evidence from stakeholders in every sector of the rural economy of Wales. We have used the evidence presented to us to identify five key areas where we want clarity and assurances to ensure a fair deal for Welsh agriculture and rural communities.

“We are also urging the Welsh Government to confirm and use the powers and influence that it will have in the UK and across Europe in getting the best deal for Wales from the new Common Agriculture Policy. This includes shaping policy outcomes and the hugely important practical arrangements for implementation and managing funding arrangements.

“Critically we want to see Welsh farmers getting the support they need during these difficult times and that any changes to CAP are fair and carefully introduced.

“This is just the first stage of our inquiry and outlines our initial views. We will continue to monitor progress throughout the negotiation process.”