Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

My first meeting with the new Commissioner after his appointment was a week after he took office. I emphasised that the agricultural community throughout the EU should be transmitting a better message to the citizens of the Union. I said we need to remind those outside the agrifood sector that the Common Agricultural Policy benefits every citizen in the Union. I pointed out that the policy is hugely important from the perspectives of food security, rural development and the provision of public goods. I made those points to strengthen our proposals, plans and arguments in favour of an adequately resourced Common Agricultural Policy. That is a fundamental starting point. At the most recent European Council meeting of Heads of Government, the Taoiseach and another Head of Government were instrumental in strongly advocating that the EU 2020 document should make adequate reference to the potential of the agrifood sector to contribute significantly to economic renewal in Europe, for example by providing more jobs. All of that has to be considered in the context of the importance of the Common Agricultural Policy. Far too often, we read ill-informed commentary at national level to the effect that the policy is designed to transfer funds to the farming community. It is a ridiculous argument. The objective of the Common Agricultural Policy is to give the citizens of Europe a secure supply of safe food. It generates many other benefits in areas like regional and rural development.

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