Farming News - Farm leaders on major lobbying offensive
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Farm leaders on major lobbying offensive
On Monday, the leaders of Britain's main farming groups joined their European counterparts in Brussels for a "major lobbying offensive."
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Raymond, who will be holding a dinner for MEPs, said, "MEPs will be challenging Commissioner-designate Phil Hogan on the 2nd October. We have an excellent opportunity to work with [them] to influence how the Parliament plans to shape the new Commissioner's political priorities for the next 5 years."
The UK's four largest farm groups (NFU, NFU Cymru, NFU Scotland and Ulster Farmers' Union), which share a base in Brussels , are focusing their attention on old and new MEPs, as well as senior Commission staff and UK government officials. Brussels office director Gail Soutar also said the farm leaders "will be building alliances with European farm organisations."
NFU Scotland president Nigel Miller added, "The new CAP is due to enter into force on 1 January, but the details are not yet there. For many farmers time has already run out. Cropping plans were made a long time ago and crops are in the ground.
"Officials don't seem to grasp just how much uncertainty and confusion remains on the ground amongst farmers. The UK administrations are struggling to make guidance available because the EU administrators haven’t told them what needs to be done in order to fully comply and pass future EU audits.
"The person who will ultimately lose out from this impasse is the farmer. That's not fair. I want tolerances and a light touch for compliance in the early years whilst the new rules bed in."
EU farming lobby group Copa cogeca held a reception on Monday for incoming MEPs. The reception, which was hosted by MEP Michel Dantin, aimed to highlight the diversity of EU grain sector. At the meeting, Copa showecased beers from Ireland, the UK, Sweden and Belgium, bread from Spain, pasta from Italy and Hungary and a 3D printer, which uses bioplastics from French cereals.
Meurig Raymond said he would also attempt to influence "the EU's approach on plant protection products," claiming "I want to see the EU's decisions based on science and not emotion."