Reforming the Common Agricultural Policy

Reforming the Common Agricultural Policy: implications for UK agriculture and rural areas

This seminar will bring out the latest thinking on reform of the Common Agricultural Policy and the impact of reforms for UK farmers and rural areas, in the light of the European Commission’s forthcoming legislative proposals.

It follows recently released proposals to freeze the CAP budget at 2013 levels until 2020 – and to link almost 30% of direct payments to ‘greening’ measures.

At this early stage we expect discussion will centre on how proposed changes are likely to affect farmers in England and the devolved administrations, and how additional sustainability measures will be built into the future Common Agricultural Policy.

Planned sessions include:

• A fresh look at the legislative proposals and their reception in the European Parliament;
• An update on the UK position in the negotiation process;
• The budget for the CAP going forward – and the implications of a budget freeze for UK farmers;
• ‘Greening’ the CAP – what sort of measures might encourage more sustainable farming, and how will they be implemented?; and
• Effects for UK farmers – will proposed reforms reduce form-filling and support active farmers?

The seminar will be chaired by William Bain MP, Shadow Minister for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and George Lyon MEP, Member, Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) and Rapporteur of First Parliament opinion on CAP Reform.

The seminar includes a keynote address from Gwilym Jones, International & Legal Affairs, Cabinet of Commissioner Cioloş, European Commission, as well as a senior representative of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Further confirmed speakers include: Professor Rob Ackrill, Professor of European Economics and Policy, Nottingham Trent University;Richard Ashworth MEP, Conservative Spokesman on Agriculture and Rural Affairs and Substitute, European Parliament Budgets Committee;David Barnes, Deputy Director, Agriculture & Rural Development, Scottish Government; Professor Allan Buckwell, Policy Director, Country Land & Business Association (CLA); George Dunn, Chief Executive, Tenant Farmers Association; Martin Harper, Director of Conservation, RSPB; Peter Kendall, President, NFU; Martin Nesbit, Director of EU and International Agriculture, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Gail Soutar, Senior CAP and International Affairs Adviser, NFU and Christine Tacon, Managing Director, The Co-operative Farms, together with a senior representative of the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP). Further senior participants are being approached.

Proposals to support research and innovation in agriculture will also be examined, in addition to measures to protect against market volatility – at a time when global food prices look set to rise.

For more information, see full seminar information and booking details.

The seminar is presented by the Westminster Food & Nutrition Forum.