Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-09-24-Speech-2-235"
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"en.20020924.10.2-235"2
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"Mr President, I would like to commend the various rapporteurs and draftsmen on their excellent work on the 2003 budget.
As regards the proposals for agricultural spending in the coming year, I note that the preliminary draft budget adopted by the Commission leaves a margin of EUR 2.3 billion under the ceiling agreed by the financial perspective. We are all aware of the current difficulties faced by farmers. Many colleagues come from Member States which were this summer struck by floods and landslides. Many farmers lost crops, animals and even their homes. The emergency aid voted through will go some way to help alleviate the problems faced. However, we should not be thinking of cutting back on farm expenditure and need to avail of the ample margins available to us.
In my own country, Ireland, there has been an almost 20% drop in farm incomes this year when inflation is factored in. In the industrial and service sector such a cut would never be accepted but farmers are expected to put up with the vagaries of world market prices which are currently at rock bottom across a range of commodities.
In this respect, it is totally unacceptable that the Council has proposed an across-the-board reduction in agricultural spending in comparison with that which the Commission has proposed. The attempt by the Council to shave EUR 275 million off market expenditure in such hard-hit sectors as arable crops, milk, beef and mutton and lamb is completely out of order under the current climate.
As far as my own group is concerned, we have tabled a series of amendments which seek to undo some of the potential damage. I would highlight the number of lines where we believe there is a need to strengthen existing schemes. The school milk scheme, for example, has proved itself to be highly effective and must be continued and expanded. Similarly, installation aid for young farmers is a key component in ensuring the future of farming, particularly in the more isolated regions which have a structure of small family farms. Farming needs to be made an attractive career prospect and if we are to bring young qualified people into the profession, a failure to do so will lead to further depopulation of rural areas to the point where certain rural communities will no longer be sustainable. This has negative consequences also for urban areas.
I also strongly support information actions on the common agricultural policy. It is important to get the message across to European citizens that we are all beneficiaries of the European model of farming. What we are paying for is an agriculture that is environmentally sound, guarantees the highest levels of food safety and traceability and upholds standards of animal welfare."@en1
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