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EU farming proposals
13/06/2008
Taking a long-term view of agricultural policy will help ensure a dynamic future for Scottish farming, Richard Lochhead said today.
Launching a consultation on the future implementation of Common Agriculture Policy (CAP), the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment said:
"The Scottish Government has a clear and ambitious agenda. We want a dynamic and competitive industry that ensures the long-term viability of rural communities and enables farmers and crofters to play a full part in achieving sustainable economic growth, through food production and environmental management of agricultural land.
"The rural economy is of fundamental importance to Scotland as a whole and the proposed changes to the CAP will impact on this sector.
"In forming decision on these proposed changes we must keep sight of the fact that we expect further, probably more significant, change from 2014 onwards.
"We must take the opportunity while consulting on the current CAP Health Check to look further ahead. We should not take short-term decisions without a view on where we want to go beyond 2014.
"I encourage all those with ambition for rural Scotland to consider and present their views. This will help us influence the debate both in the UK and Europe and to make decisions that are in the best interests of Scotland."
The European Commission published its proposals for the CAP Health Check on May 20, 2008. It is expected that agreement between Member States will be reached at the EU Agriculture Council in October, with the European Parliament delivering an opinion around the same time. This would mean that the final Health Check legislation is likely to be formally adopted in November.
The proposals include a number of changes in modulation, cross compliance rules, the abolition of set-aside, increased milk quotas and greater flexibility in the use of the national envelope for single farm payments.
The closing date for consultation responses is September 5, 2008. The Scottish Government has also set up a CAP Health Check Stakeholder Group to offer advice and views on the implications for Scotland of the Health Check.