Plaid Cymru MEP Jill Evans has rejected claims by UK Chancellor Alistair Darling to suggest that the scrapping of all farm subsidies is the way to reduce food prices. She criticised his lack of consultation on this vital issue and supported the position taken by Wales Rural Affairs Minister, Elin Jones.
The Plaid Deputy President said:
"There is no doubt that the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy needs reform, but we have to go about it in a new way, taking into account climate change and environmental concerns. This does not mean the end of the CAP, but it would mean taking a different route.
"Our starting point should be achieving food security, fighting climate change, animal welfare and ensuring that EU funding delivers on these aims together with resources to deal with the side effects on rural communities.
"The UK Chancellor Alistair Darling seems to be taking the shortest of short term views, looking only as far as the Crewe by-election, and wanting to be seen to be acting on food prices. But recent rises in food prices are due to a range of factors including adverse weather conditions, high energy costs, rapidly expanding Asian demand and to a limited extent the increase in bio-fuels.
We must ensure the long term viability of rural communities in Wales and around the world. We must ensure that the needs of Wales and its rural and farming communities are met, something which is clearly not the priority of Labour."
Jill Evans, who represents the whole of Wales in the European Parliament, added that she agreed with Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones that we needed debate, and that switching resources towards rural development and in particular increased land management action by farmers is a measure which should be supported.
Diwedd/Ends
NOTES
The Welsh Assembly Government has said that the papers released by the Commission earlier today are aimed at introducing a simpler and more efficient system, pointing out that the proposals highlight how farmers, through changes to land management, can contribute towards tackling climate change.
The Commission has made clear that the health check is not about further significant reform to the CAP. This is reflected in the papers that have been made available today.
