Maginness: When We Win Farmers Win

Wednesday 13 May 2009

SDLP European Election Candidate Alban Maginness has said he will use the party influence in Europe to secure the best deal for farmers.

SDLP European Election Candidate Alban Maginness has said he will use the party influence in Europe to secure the best deal for farmers.

Speaking at the Balmoral Show, Mr Maginness said he would be making the review of the Less Favoured Areas and reform of the Common Agricultural Policy key priorities.

He said: "Over the past few months I have travelled across the North and I have met farmers who need certainty for the future.

"The SDLP pledges to be the strongest voice in Europe for the farming industry.

"As members of the Party of European Socialists, the SDLP has an extensive network of contacts and influence to deliver for the North.

"Supporting the continuation of sustainable farming helps maintain the countryside and contributes to rural development. We will use the review of the existing the Less Favoured Areas (LFA) scheme to press for specific protection and strengthening of our LFAs to allow for the long term growth of farming here in Northern Ireland.

"I also pledge to address the issue of farm gate prices being less than the cost of production, an issue of particular concern to the dairy sector.

"We will strive to ensure the rural environment remains a place in which people wish to live and work, by securing equal access to public services and maintaining normal service provision and social amenities to prevent people from feeling isolated.

"Furthermore, any system that has been around for as long as the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) may require detailed review and reform, not least to ensure that the money spent on the CAP reaches the farmer, and is not absorbed by administrative costs and red tape.

The coming years are key for local farmers many of whom have benefited greatly from the CAP to date. With the Health Check completed, the medium term future of the CAP may be strongly influenced by discussions on how the EU's overall 2013-2020 budget should be spent. This is likely to raise the question of what the EU's future priorities should be and the subsequent importance placed on farming.

"The current economic crisis underlines the urgent need to fulfil the EU's goal of becoming the most competitive and dynamic economy in the world. The SDLP believes the agricultural sector can contribute to this vision.

"For five years farmers have lost out for Europe without the SDLP.

"And Europe worked best for farmers when there was an SDLP representation in the European Parliament. It is time for us all to win again."

ENDS