Nordic stamp on reform of the EU agricultural policy
The Nordic Council is sending a common proposal to the EU Commission calling for for more sustainable and future orientated agricultural subsidies. This is the first ever joint Nordic proposal for agriculture.
The main points in the Nordic Council's official approach to the EU Commission regarding the review of agricultural subsidies are more organic farming, more funding for climate and environmental initiatives and great opportunities for small farms and less export subsidies.
The Nordic Council Business and Environment Committees have joined forces on the first joint Nordic parliamentary statement to the EU on agriculture, particularly to strengthen the Nordic voice in Brussels.
"EU's agricultural policy interferes in a number of areas in all the Nordic countries, whether they are in the EU or not. Agricultural subsidies may benefit developments, especially in the remote areas of the region, and we need active farmers in the Nordic countries who produce good, healthy food. However, we believe that it is necessary to simplify the subsidy scheme and introduce direct payments for clearly defined societal benefits, rather than, as now, just blindly subsidising food production", says the Environment Committee's chairperson, Ann Kristin Johansson (S - Sweden).
"Meanwhile, the Nordic countries have a responsibility, not just to grow enough food for themselves in a sustainable manner, but also to help meet the continuously growing global food requirements", she explains.
The EU agricultural policy is to be revised from 2013 and the Nordic Council's input will be sent not only to the Commission but also to the European Parliament and the individual countries. Denmark will hold the Presidency of the EU in the spring of 2012 and aims to make a strong impression on the review of agricultural subsidies.
This position is also supported y the Norwegian and Icelandic members of both committees, with the exception of the Conservative Group and one member of the Left-wing Green Socialist group.
Read the full statement (in Swedish). The Nordic food ministers will meet in Finland from 7-8 July but the government representatives are not expected to discuss the EU Agricultural subsidies. This subject is, however, a topic of high priority for the upcoming Danish Presidency of the EU.
Contacts
Michael Funch
Phone
+45 33960332
Email
mifu@norden.org
