Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2007-10-10-Speech-3-211"
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"en.20071010.22.3-211"2
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".
Many thanks, Mr President. I would also like to thank the rapporteur for his work. European taxpayers want to know how their taxes are spent. Publishing the names of those receiving agricultural subsidies is absolutely necessary in the interests of a transparent European policy, particularly given the enormous proportion of the EU budget represented by these subsidies. More importantly still, however, this publication can be the start of a very necessary, genuinely thorough reform of the common agricultural policy.
When subsidies were made public in the Netherlands in 2005, we realised that a disproportionate share was going to a small, wealthy group. We are providing large subsidies to multinationals and large landowners whilst thousands of ordinary farmers can scarcely get by. To begin with, there must be a cap on the subsidies that one person or business can receive – and not EUR 300 000, as Commissioner Fischer Boel recently proposed. I would suggest no more than an average annual salary. After all, most subsidies are intended to supplement income.
Member States failing to ensure the correct transparency should receive less EU funds as a penalty. It is also important that, where Member States have poorly functioning control mechanisms, this be made known so that farmers and the organisations representing their interests are able to call those authorities to account if they suffer damage as a result.
Of course, this should be only the beginning of a whole series of transparency initiatives by Parliament. The distribution of the Structural Funds should also be made public. I hope for the broadest possible support from Parliament for this report, as it would make our primary supervisory function, in particular, so much easier. A transparent agricultural policy is the first step towards a fair agricultural policy."@en1
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