John Dardis (Progressive Democrats)

I am trying to be constructive in pointing to a direction in which we can go in the talks. The trick will be to ensure we keep people in rural areas. It is not good enough for Commissioner Fischler to say this can be done through rural development initiatives. While welcome, if there are no farmers farming in the areas in which the initiatives were taken, the system will fail. We must also realise that the fabric of the countryside, environment and social infrastructure is dependent on our rural population. If the European Union recognises anything, it should recognise the importance of people living in rural areas in terms of its immense social value, value in terms of law and order and in terms of everything else we believe to be important. If it does not recognise this and is prepared to put its money where its mouth is, I am fearful for the future of European society.