A top-level delegation of Farmers' Union of Wales leaders and officers today (Monday September 19) began a four-day stint of talks in Brussels to spell out their concerns and aspirations for reform of the Common Agricultural Policy for 2014-2020.

The five-strong group is meeting MEPs from across the EU and senior EC and Welsh Government Brussels-based officials in a visit coinciding with crucialCAPdiscussions by the Council of Ministers and the EU Agriculture Committee.

“The decisions made over the coming months at an EU level will have far reaching consequences for the economy, landscape and culture of Wales, not to mention the ability of the EU as a whole to face the looming food shortages that experts predict will hit us sooner rather than later,” said FUW president Emyr Jones, who is leading the delegation.

“Over the coming days we will be highlighting the importance of a strong CAP which supports the family farm where the overwhelming majority of our food is produced.”

A package of proposals for the CAP 2014-2020 has already been circulated to all EC departments as part of an ongoing consultation and these papers have been leaked to the press.

The seven papers within the package are: direct payments, the common organisation of markets, rural development, financing and monitoring of the policy, aids and refunds related to agricultural products, the wine market and direct payments in 2013.

Mr Jones said the FUW had already written to Welsh deputy minister for agriculture, food, fisheries and European programmes Alun Davies highlighting key areas of concern in the leaked EC draft CAP proposals which, when finalised, will lay down the rules for future direct payments to farmers throughout Europe.

"They could have far-reaching consequences for Welsh farmers if left unaltered," said Mr Jones.

"This leaked document is a very early and incomplete draft and the main thrust of our visit to Brussels is to take the opportunity to lobby for changes.

"We intend to highlight to the Welsh Government and Brussels the impact that the proposed regulations would have on Welsh farmers if left unchanged.

“We know from modelling carried out by the union over the past two years that some of the proposals in the draft papers would be disastrous for our rural communities."

FUW members and other Welsh agricultural industry officials will have an opportunity to voice their views about the EC's proposals on Thursday October 20 during a conference organised by the union at Aberystwyth Arts Centre under the theme “Unravelling CAP Reform".

The speakers will be: Tassos Haniotis, Director of Economic Analysis, Perspectives and Evaluations at the EC Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development; George Lyon MEP, former Rapporteur for the EU Agriculture Committee; Jeremy Walker, National Chairman of the Tenant Farmers’’ Association and Dr Nick Fenwick, FUW Director of Agricultural Policy.

"The conference will provide an ideal opportunity to hear about developments to date and the possible or likely impact of CAP reform on the agriculture, economy, and landscape of Wales and similar regions," added Mr Jones.