Potential cuts to future funding of the Common Agricultural Policy are the biggest threat facing farmers in the EU, according to ECR agriculture co-ordinator Jim Nicholson. He insists that the agricultural sector should not be penalised for financial pressures caused by Brexit and by demands for more funding for other areas of EU spending such as security and migration.

Potential cuts to future funding of the Common Agricultural Policy are the biggest threat facing farmers in the EU, according to ECR agriculture co-ordinator Jim Nicholson.

He insists that the agricultural sector should not be penalised for financial pressures caused by Brexit and by demands for more funding for other areas of EU spending such as security and migration.

Mr Nicolson told the European Parliament: “A large net contributor like the UK does not leave the EU without it having affects but I believe very strongly that farmers should not be made to pay the price.

“EU farmers proudly produce food to the highest standards globally and they must be able to continue to do so in the future.

“The next CAP needs to give farmers the necessary tools to keep them competitive in the international market place and to protect the rural economy from extreme price volatility and market crisis.”

MEPs today backed a parliamentary report responding to the European Commission’s communication on the future of food and farming, which itself is a precursor to the next CAP which they are due to propose this Friday and would come into effect in 2021.

The report contains many ECR amendments and has been broadly welcomed by the Group.

Mr Nicholson said:

“While we have some concerns we welcome the emphasis on a simpler and more transparent system of payments to farmers, targeted payments and more powers for Member States to design their own strategies for implementing the CAP more effectively.”