British MEP instrumental in obtaining Commission concession for UK farmers on greening measures

British MEP Stuart Agnew was instrumental in ensuring that UK farmers will not be penalised by the EU for already being involved in environmental schemes created by the Government and Agriculture Commissioner Dacian Ciolos has now officially confirmed the details of what he said in a European Parliamentary debate on 15th November 2011, in response to cross examination from British MEP, Stuart Agnew.

During the plenary debate, Mr Agnew challenged Commissioner Dacian Ciolos to give a straight answer on this issue. “We don’t feel you answered the question Commissioner. There are many people in Britain who have land in environmental schemes. It may occupy 1% of their farm land. What they want to know is will this 1% count toward the 7% greening you intend to bring in or will the 7% of greening be additional to the 1% they have already put in? As these schemes last five years, many farmers are having to renew this year and they need to know. “

Responding, Mr Ciolos said: “What we have suggested will not have an impact on existing contracts which farmers are already involved in for their Rural Development Programme.” He went on to confirm that farmers who have planted trees around areas of vegetation which are not for crop production will find that these areas of land “will be included in the 7% and will enable the farmer to continue to enjoy that specific support in the context of the Rural Development Programme.”

Commenting on the latest announcement from the Commission, Mr Agnew said: “I am pleased that the Commissioner has followed through on the firm commitment he gave me in the European Parliament. It would have been ridiculous and very damaging to the interests of UK farmers for them to be penalised for carrying out the will of the British Government! However, the Commission’s plans for crop rotation are almost equally infuriating and illogical but they don’t seem to be willing to listen to reason. They are interfering with a tried and tested system and will cause chaos. The logistics of growing several crops in the same year on one farm are hugely difficult, uneconomic and don’t actually help the environment. I am continuing to challenge the Commission on it.”