Bairbre de Brún addresses European Parliament on support for rural communities

7 June, 2005

Bairbre de Brún has delivered a speech in the European Parliament calling for measures to enhance the ‘quality of life in rural areas and promote diversification of economic activities through measures targeting the farm sector and other rural actors’.

The report was prepared by Agnes Schierhuber MEP calling for a European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.

Speaking from Strasbourg Ms de Brún said:

“I would like to welcome Agnes Schierhuber’s report on the Commission proposal for a European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. I endorse the view expressed in her report which sees the Commission’s proposal as positive but in need of some specific improvements.

“I welcome the European Commission’s proposals that aim to enhance the environment and countryside through support for land management. Equally important is the aim of enhancing the quality of life in rural areas and promoting diversification of economic activities through measures targeting the farm sector and other rural actors.

“The European Commission’s proposed budget of EUR 88.75 billion for the period 2007-2013 at 2004 prices is also welcome, but we would still face considerable problems even with this amount. It is vital that such funds are used to meet the objectives of improving the quality of living for our family farming communities and the protection of our rural environment.” ENDS

Full Text of speech delivered in European Parliament

Tuarascáil Schierhuber

“Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh thuarascáil Agnes Schierhuber ar mholadh an Choimisiúin faoi chiste Eorpach Talmha?ochta don Fhorbairt Tuaithe.

“Fáilt?m roimh mholta? an Choimisiúin cur leis an timpeallacht agus leis an tuath tré thacú le bainist?ocht an talaimh.

“Ar aon dul leis an méid sin tá an tábhacht chéanna ag dul le mianach an tsaoil ar

fud na tuaithe a bhisiú, chomh maith le héagsúlacht a chur ar aghaidh in imeachta? eacnama?ochta. Is féidir é sin a dhéanamh tré bhearta a dh?r?onn ar rannóg na talmha?ochta agus na tuaithe.

“I would like to welcome Agnes Schierhuber’s report on the Commission proposal for a European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. I endorse the view expressed in her report which sees the Commission’s proposal as positive but in need of some specific improvements.

“I welcome the Commission’s proposals that aim to enhance the environment and countryside through support for land management.

“Equally important is the aim of enhancing the quality of life in rural areas and promoting diversification of economic activities through measures targeting the farm sector and other rural actors.

“I welcome the fact that through the establishment of a single Rural Development Fund bureaucracy and duplication is reduced.

“I welcome proposals in the report to promote equal opportunities and the participation of women in farming and in the wider rural economy.

“Support for organic farming is also important.

“The Commission’s proposed budget of EUR 88.75 billion for the period 2007-2013 at 2004 prices is also welcome, but we would still face considerable problems even with this amount. It is vital that such funds are used to meet the objectives of improving the quality of living for our family farming communities and the protection of our rural environment.

“There is a need for the aims and objectives of Natura 2000 to be mainstreamed into all aspects of EU agricultural and rural development policy and funding. Farmers, foresters and other land managers should be appropriately supported for protecting and maintaining Natura 2000 sites. Resources should be put into the fund for the 2007-2013 period that will enable this to happen Otherwise we seriously run the risk of repeating past mistakes.

“Ba mhaith liom bu?ochas a ghábháil le hAgnes Schierhuber as a tuarascáil agus molaim go láidir ? don Pharlaimint.