Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-07-03-Speech-4-143"
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"en.20030703.7.4-143"2
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"Mr President, I support measures designed to assist and encourage the continuing participation of women in the challenging work of agriculture and rural development. In so doing I ask the House to reflect on and acknowledge their already outstanding contribution, in particular the sacrifices and generosity of previous generations of rural women, who silently toiled under the most difficult conditions with little or no recognition other than the satisfaction of ensuring the welfare of their families and instilling in them the culture, ethos and spiritual values of a profession that has no equal. Society owes them a debt of gratitude.
In the context of CAP reform, and with the greater emphasis on rural development, the role of women in rural society is of increasing importance. Their leadership qualities are crucial in the mobilisation of the human and physical resources of the rural areas of an enlarged European Union. Equal opportunities for rural women are a necessary prerequisite if we are to achieve the full potential of rural development measures. I would like to see, for example, the Early Retirement from Farming Scheme amended to provide for their greater security.
Not for the first time I express concern about the continuity of the EU family farm structure, of which women are an important component. Uncertainty about the long-term economic sustainability of farming, coupled with the availability of more financially rewarding employment for young people, has led to a worrying increase in the age profile of European farmers, of whom 37% are women. Of the 14.65 million people working on farms in the EU, 5.37 million are women. The figure for Portugal, at 49%, is the highest and for Ireland, my own country, at 11%, the lowest. Ireland's unique family-farm structure is, however, best demonstrated by the fact that 97% of Irish farms are jointly managed, with women playing an equal and important role. If national governments are to achieve the desirable objective of restoring urban rural balance, already seriously out of hand, then the role of women must be adequately recognised and rewarded.
In conclusion, in Ireland there are many examples of women in leadership roles. The Leader Programme is just one area that comes to my mind. Likewise, the Irish Countrywomen's Association
one of the oldest in Europe
has played an historic role in advancing the cause of rural women and in bridging the rural and urban divide."@en1
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