Secretary of State welcomes EU Agriculture Commissioner to Scotland
Michael Moore met with Dacian Ciolos, the EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, to discuss specific Scottish interests in the ongoing EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform negotiations
The Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Moore met this morning with Dacian Ciolos EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, during his visit to Scotland to discuss specific Scottish interests in the ongoing EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform negotiations. The outcome of CAP reform negotiations will have a large bearing on the framework under which Scottish farmers operate up to 2020.
During the discussions, Mr Moore emphasised the importance of maximising flexibility in the final CAP package so that EU Member States are able to implement programmes that are appropriate to their particular national circumstances. The landscape and farm types in Scotland, for example, are generally very different to elsewhere in the UK and so the UK Government is pushing for the flexibility to vary the means in which the CAP is implemented according to local conditions. Mr Moore also raised concerns about the speed of transition from historic to area based payments.
Mr Moore said: “The UK Government is using its experience and considerable clout within the EU to help shape a CAP that delivers for Scottish farmers, the taxpayer, and the environment. We want to encourage a resilient and sustainable industry where our frmers are able compete effectively at a global level.
“Atumn will be a crunch time for negotiations on CAP, and I look forward to meeting the Commissioner to discuss this when I visit Brussels later this year.”