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Beef cut plan faces ministers dissent

- 23 February 2001
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23 February 2001



Beef cut plan faces ministers’ dissent

By FWi staff

EU FARM ministers are expected to raise objections at EU Commission plans to curb beef production, when they meet on Monday (26 February).

At a meeting of the Special Committee on Agriculture early this week, nearly every member state voiced opposition to at least some aspect of the plan.

Julie Smith, National Farmers Union director in Brussels, said she expected a lot of dissent in the meeting and thought few decisions would get made.

The commission would probably be asked to come back with revised plans, she predicted.

The controversial seven-point plan has had UK farm unions up in arms.

The leaders of the main unions met farm minister Nick Brown on Thursday (22 February) in a last-minute bid to impress on him the importance of opposing the proposals.

And a UK and Ireland delegation met EU food safety commissioner David Byrne on Tuesday (20 February).

They told him that consumer assurances should be the number one priority and the UK and Irish farmers should not be penalised with EU-wide reforms.

Adding another prong to their attack, the unions have also been seeking to form alliances with other member states including France and Germany.

Jim Walker, president of the Scottish NFU said: “We know that other member states are unhappy about some of the proposals, but we just cannot afford to leave things to chance.”

“If these proposals are adopted then we can kiss goodbye to our traditional beef industry in Scotland.”

The UK is hoping that France in particular will be a useful ally when it comes to Mondays council meeting.

French farm minister Jean Glavany came under pressure to offer extra aid to farmers as he toured Frances agricultural showcase SIMA this week.

After farmers blockaded ministry offices in Caen and Rouen, he is believed to be considering a rescue plan put forward by the French farmers union FNSEA.

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