Archive Article: 2002/04/05
Why doesnt UK help its young farmers?
Dont ask, dont get, is an adage that explains much about what is unfair in the supposedly single European market. A new report from EU statistics agency Eurostat on the use of Brussels funds to help young farmers is a good example.
While France paid out over k1.5bn (£922m) to 95,000 new entrants from 1990 to 1997, the UK spent nothing. The infamous Fontainebleau agreement means any such payments would be charged in part to the UK Treasury.
So the UK has never asked for this money and now faces one of the fastest ageing farm populations in Europe.
If the government insists on transferring more CAP money from direct payments to rural development, some of that cash must go urgently to help our young farmers.