ON the day the National Farmers Union launch their European elections manifesto, East Anglian MEP Vicky Ford has launched a plain English guide to summarise the reform negotiations.
The Common Agricultural Policy remains one of the largest parts of the EU budget. Substantial reforms were negotiated last year and farmers are still waiting for detailed guidance on policy areas which will affect what they plant in the fields this year. Many East Anglian farmers and environmental organisations have contacted MEPs asking for details.
Mrs Ford said “I remember writing essays in the need to reform the CAP when I was a student in the 1980s and it’s still far from perfect. In particular some of the “greening” elements which are meant to help biodiversity are a huge backwards step for many East Anglian farms – they won’t help food, farming or the environment. As a result I did not support this package of reforms – but it’s never the less important that people can see what has been agreed.”
The report is available here.
