Farron calls for clarity over CAP plans

Cumbrian MP Tim Farron has called of the European Commission to provide clarity for farmers over the future of CAP reform.

Following the news that EU farm subsidy paying agencies have announced that the proposed reforms to are far too complicated and would take up to two years to set up. Tim has called for the Agricultural Commissioner, Dacian Ciolos to provide a clear timetable for when these forms will be introduced to help offer some resolution to farmers who are currently waiting in limbo to find out what will happen to their businesses when the new CAP is introduced.

The most damning part of the response from the paying agencies is their statement that with the current proposals, they would need two years to put the new regulations in place, potentially pushing the start date for the new regime beyond 2015, let alone 2014, as proposed by the Commission.

Commenting Tim said: "The negotiations over CAP reform have been going on for far too long and while we all want to ensure that the interest of British farmers is protected and pushed onto the agenda, the delays are causing high levels of uncertainty and anxiety for farmers across the UK over the future of their businesses.

"What we need now is a clear timetable of when these reforms will be introduced so that farmers have a better idea of what they need to adjust in order to ensure they still qualify for payments and what timetable they must work to."