UK legal and property professionals are to join representatives from 13 European countries, plus delegates from Japan and the USA, today to focus on how national law and regulations affect the competitiveness of agriculture across the EU.

This year’s Congress of the European Council of Rural Law, a bi-annual event which enables representatives of European countries to share knowledge and experience in their field, will also explore post-Brexit policies for agriculture.

The UK delegation is led by the Agricultural Law Association with Brexit papers being delivered by the CLA’s Christopher Price, Rhodri Jones from Agri Advisor Solicitors and Jeremy Moody from the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers.

Mike Holland, Agricultural Law Association Consultant and Adviser, said: “The Congress provides a unique opportunity to debate and discuss matters of European agricultural policy and law. We will be delivering papers on competition rules in agriculture, the drivers and obstacles to competitiveness and general developments in the law affecting rural property and agriculture. We are delighted that our delegation comprises leading figures from our sector.”

Christopher Price, CLA Director of Policy, said: “Brexit presents challenges and opportunities for agricultural lawyers in both the UK and the EU. Decisions have to be made on which EU laws and policies are retained and which are replaced and new trading arrangements have to be negotiated. Many of the issues are complex and highly technical so the Congress provides an excellent opportunity for specialist professionals to get together and debate the possibilities.”

Rhodri Jones, Partner at Agri-Advisor, said: “With Brexit negotiations ongoing and the CAP having been an integral part of the industry for such a long time, there are significant challenges ahead but also the opportunity to do things differently. This discussion on competitiveness comes at a crucial time and it will be a valuable opportunity to learn about the agricultural markets in other countries, and particularly, the relationships between EU countries and those outside the EU.”

Jeremy Moody, Secretary and Adviser at the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers, said: “We have the first opportunity for 70 years for the UK to look afresh at all the tools of agricultural policy with our needs to be more competitive and environmentally positive. These conversations with other professionals, inside and outside the EU, give a good basis to review the lessons, good and bad, to be learnt from other countries and bring them back to the discussions about our best roads forward after Brexit.” 

Founded in 1957, the European Council of Rural Law, more usually known as the CEDR from its French name Comité Européen de Droit Rural, is the only pan-European organisation which represents lawyers and professionals involved and interested in rural law covering agriculture, the environment, food, energy, and economics.

The 29^th CEDR European Congress of Agricultural Law runs from 21–23 September 2017 in Lille, France. French Minister of Agriculture and Food Stéphane Travert will give a keynote speech at 10.30am on Thursday, 21 September.