Cautious support for new EU Agriculture Commissioner
Posted, January 15, 2010 @ 00:00
Brussels, 15th January 2010 -- Conservative Agriculture Spokesman and South East MEP Richard Ashworth today gave his "cautious support" to Romanian Agriculture Commissioner designate Dacian Ciolos.
Mr Ciolos was originally a controversial choice as he had been described by Nicholas Sarkozy as "France's second commissioner".
However during a three hour hearing in front of MEPs in the European Parliament Mr Ciolos gave a convincing enough performance to gain the support of Mr Ashworth and Conservative MEPs with his conviction that the CAP should not live in the past but should move on and find new solutions to pressing issues such as food security, climate change and support for rural communities.
Speaking after the hearing Mr Ashworth said :-
"I was reassured by the fact that he described himself as a reformer and that he pledged to defend the agricultural budget against competition from other, newer demands being made of Europe.
"He stressed the need for simplicity, equality and transparency and I support him in these aims.
"He has laid a sound base for a good future relationship and he is evidently very knowledgeable about agriculture. However he will need to prove that he is truly independent from the influence of Nicholas Sarkozy. Worryingly he refused to confirm that he would defend the British rebate.
"The relationship between the parliament and the European Commissioner will increase in importance, since the Lisbon Treaty gives the parliament joint decision-making powers over agriculture, alongside national governments.
"He has my cautious support and I hope he will meet the expectations of UK farmers and taxpayers over the next five years."