CAP Reform speech: 12th March 2013

I spoke today in Strasbourg about CAP reform. I was the only West Midlands MEP to speak on this issue.

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Not a single sane person in this chamber will disagree with me when I say that the Common Agricultural Policy needs reforming..

The EU needs to reduce intervention to a genuine safety net, move towards a market oriented approach, and end the situation whereby farmers chase subsidies and not markets. The old style CAP market protection, so beloved by our French neighbours and others should be consigned to a box marked 'failed political projects'.

But what reform are we really going to see here?

We have been talking about this for two years, and still the parliament's agriculture committee cannot reach agreement on the content. What message does that send to the farming sector?

Both environmentalists and farmers alike are highly critical of the 'green' aspects of these proposals. How then can the public believe that their environmental concerns are being addressed?

I believe that the people best qualified to look after the British landscape are British farmers, not unelected bureaucrats in Brussels.

CAP is expensive and over bureaucratised. It adds to the weekly food bill of every family in Great Britain. Professor Patrick Minford of the Cardiff Business school, a leading critic of the CAP, is on record as stating that the average family would be much better off if we left the EU, and not only in terms of cheaper food.

A weekend at the Three Counties Show

As some of you will be aware, both myself and my team ran a stall at the weekends Three Counties Show which was held at the Malvern Showground.

Despite a fair amount of terrible weather, many thousands of people attended the show and I was able to speak to a great many people about agricultural issues that affected them.

I was the only MEP with a stand at the event, in fact I was the only politician with a mobile surgery at the event. I did see some politicians on Friday with suspiciously clean shoes, but failed to see anyone else over the weekend.

The Three Counties show was a great chance to speak to many farmers from different sectors of farming life. Here I am talking to those who were manning the National Sheep Association stall.

The farmer in the above picture was adding pig oils to the sheeps wool to keep its moisture.

A selection of bulls head towards the barns following judging.

Discussing CAP reform in the NFU tent.

PRESS RELEASE: CAP REFORM AT TOP OF AGENDA FOR MEP AT THREE COUNTIES SHOW

The West Midlands has a thriving agricultural industry which is threatened by EU reform - something that one Independent MEP wants to prevent happening.

Nikki Sinclaire MEP will pitch her mobile surgery at this weekend’s Three Counties Show, and will be on hand to discuss farmers concerns about EU reforms that look set to harm their industry.

The Independent MEP will be the only MEP at the event with a mobile surgery.

Nikki will also be engaging farmers about the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) which is being 'reviewed' for reform this year. 48% of the EU budget is spent on agriculture with the French, Germans and Spanish the main beneficiaries. Britain joined the EU after CAP was formed and struggled for its fair share with the French in particular not willing to give up their national interest.

Nikki said "Blair freely gave away half of the 'Thatcher Rebate' to obtain talks about reform, now we must push the French to act equitably"

Nikki Sinclaire said, ’Reform of the CAP is firmly back on the political agenda in 2012 as the EU gears up for the next round of changes, scheduled for 2013. I want as many British farmers to be involved in the consultation process as possible as ultimately any changes could severely impact their ability to do their jobs’’ 

Along with her team of advisers, Nikki will be on hand to discuss the contents of the leaflet she has produced for the event - entitled “Rural Life Matters”.

The 4 page leaflets details the work Nikki is doing in Brussels to protect the West Midlands agricultural sector. This includes details of the written declaration both Miss Sinclaire and fellow West Midlands MEP Mike Nattrass tabled to prevent cheap battery eggs being imported into the UK, which damages the UK’s egg industry which is worth around £561 million per annum and employs over 23,000 people.

Nikki Sinclaire said of the event, “As an Independent MEP, I will always speak up in Brussels in support of British farmers. Using official channels I will continue to urge the European Commission to have greater consultation with British farmers over future proposals.

With over 100,000 people expected to attend this show over the weekend, I’m very excited to be at the event and can’t wait to speak to as many people as possible

Farming and agriculture are major employers in my constituency, and knowing how I can make things easier for the sector in terms of EU legislation, is essential work”.

There will also be a unique opportunity for those in attendance to submit suggestions for questions to be asked of the EU’s commissioner of Agriculture, Dacian Ciolo. Nikki will then be able to table these questions in Brussels.

As well as engaging on agricultural topics, Nikki’s team will be asking visitors whether the EU gets their goat, with information about Campaign for a Referendum and a chance to sign the petition. Ms Sinclaire’s ongoing campaign is calling for a referendum on the UK’s continued membership of the European Union.

-ENDS-

The Three Counties show in Malvern runs from the 15^th - 17^th June, from 7.30am - 6.30pm

Nikki Sinclaire will be in attendance at all 3 days of this event.

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