10th Annual Conference, Kilkenny, 16-19 October 2002
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Agriculture
and nature in an expanding Europe - can a greener CAP fit it all?
Hosted by the Heritage Council of Ireland
EEAC Sustainable agriculture Statement endorsed
The statement and the related Working Group Report are available for download here.
On the main Conference day the EEAC discussed the report Towards Sustainable Agricultural Policies for Europe that was drafted by the Agriculture Working Group of the EEAC. This report outlines a vision for sustainable agriculture and sustainable use of nature in Europe and identifies the links to EU legal and administrative mechanisms for its implementation. Michael Hamill (European Commission) contributed to the discussion by explaining the latest developments concerning the Mid-Term Review of the Common Agricultural Policy. In the subsequent session speakers from Ireland, France, Poland, Hungary and Spain presented their countries' specific problems and views on the CAP. The audience also heard boh the farming and the rural development perspective.
The Working Group Statement which summarises the key message of the report, was adopted by the EEAC network as representing its common position on policies for agriculture and rural development. It was endorsed by 16 councils from 12 countries. It was concluded that the remainder of the report can be seen as a valuable background document with an analysis of the issues and practical examples of the kinds of agri-environmental scheme now being operated in Member States.
The intended purpose of the reports' recommendations is to provide a template for planning the radical changes in agricultural policies which are now widely agreed to be required, and a benchmark against which environmental advisory councils and others will be able to evaluate specific proposals put forward, thus assisting them in developing their advice to their governments.
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