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The Rt Hon Sir Malcolm Bruce MPLiberal Democrat MP for Gordon |
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EU representative on CAP meets with Gordon farmers
March 16, 2010 10:05 AM
George Lyon MEP, the EU's rapporteur on CAP post-2013 met with farmers and agricultural sector workers in Inverurie last Friday to discuss the implications of CAP changes for Scottish farmers.
Malcolm Bruce was pleased to welcome George Lyon MEP to Inverurie to discuss the implications of changes to CAP for local farmers
Mr Lyon has been tasked by the European Parliament's Agricultural Committee to write a report that will provide the basis for the Parliament's stance during the forthcoming CAP negotiations on future agricultural support.
Mr Lyon's role is significant in formulating the EU's agricultural policy post-Lisbon Treaty given the European Parliament's increased influence in this sphere: the Parliament is now equal to the Council of Ministers which was previously responsible for determining the CAP.
Points of discussion at the meeting in Inverurie included the importance of campaigning for a fairer, environmentally friendly and sustainable CAP which reflects the future challenges facing Europe and the wider world including a growing world population and climate change.
Malcolm Bruce MP for Gordon who organised the meeting said afterwards:
"I am grateful to both George Lyon MEP and the local agricultural community for attending what proved to be both an informative and productive meeting".
"I know that George found it to be a valuable discussion and that he will take the views of our local farmers into account as he proceeds to write his report for the European Parliament".