A five-man delegation of Farmers’ Union of Wales members from North Wales took the opportunity on a recent visit to the EU Parliament headquarters in Brussels to raise numerous issues concerning the farming industry with all four Welsh MEPs.
The delegation – vice presidents Glyn Roberts and Eifion Huws and the union’s Caernarfonshire county chairman Morgan Jones-Parry, vice chairman Dewi Roberts and executive officer Gwynedd Watkin – all called for the retention of milk quotas and the historic basis for Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) payments.
In separate meetings with MEPs Kay Swinburne (Con), Jill Evans (Plaid), Derek Vaughan (Lab) and John Bufton (UKIP), the delegation also demanded a curb on cross-compliance penalties which, they stressed, were often disproportionate to the “crime” – especially when a genuine mistake, with no financial gain, had occurred.
Earlier, the delegation attended a Welsh farmhouse breakfast in the Parliament building, hosted by Dr Swinburne, where a cross-party group of MEPs from all parts of the UK and senior EU officials were treated to a hearty breakfast of Gwendraeth Valley bacon, sausages from Welshpool butcher John Langford, Caws Cenarth’s Perl Wen and Caerphilly cheeses, and yoghurt from Rachel’s Dairy.
Mr Roberts told the gathering that around 1,500 functions were held in the UK to celebrate the annual Farmhouse Breakfast Week but the FUW’s event in Brussels was the only one held overseas.
“Our president and senior policy staff were here over a month ago and the FUW fully appreciates the hugely important role the EU Parliament now plays in agriculture ion Wales. We want to work with you – we want to meet with you regularly,” he said.
Dr Swinburne said she was delighted to meet the FUW delegation who took the opportunity to lobby for the interests of Welsh farming and promote quality, fresh Welsh produce.”
Speaking after the breakfast, Mrs Evans said: “It was a good opportunity to show off the excellence of Welsh farm produce to EU law makers and officials.
“It also gave us a chance to discuss a wide range of issues that are of concern to Welsh farming such as milk quotas, CAP reform, food labelling and climate change.
“The Common Agricultural Policy is being reviewed so it’s more important than ever to make sure the voice of Welsh farming is heard in Brussels.”
