EU farm commissioner Phil Hogan has stated that European farmers will have their direct payments cut after the UK leaves the EU, a revelation that will further destabilise farmers' futures across Europe.
Mr Hogan told the German magazine Der Spiegel that Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) subsidies would be slashed because Britain would no longer be contributing £2.5 billion a year to the farming budget.
According to a report in Farmers' Guardian here, the commissioner’s comments came as concerns grow about the state of the EU’s finances. A spokesman for the German farming union DBV has already said that farmers in Germany are ‘greatly concerned’ about a huge gap in EU funding when Britain leaves. In the UK, NFU president Meurig Raymond said it was clear from conversations with Commission officials and MEPs that the CAP budget was under pressure.
The comments can only add to the uncertainties that farmers all over Europe face, and are likely to exacerbate tensions as agricultural trading terms are discussed.
Follow Sustain's coverage of food and Brexit here.
Published Friday 3 February 2017
Sustain: Sustain The alliance for better food and farming advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, enrich society and culture and promote equity.
