Commissioner Cioloş in London
Commissioner Dacian Cioloș was in London on Wednesday June 23 for a bilateral meeting with new UK Secretary of State Caroline Spelman. UK Farm Minister Jim Paice was also present, and Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Moore subsequently joined the meeting. Discussions related to a number of bilateral issues, the priorities of the new UK government, and the future of the CAP
In the evening, the Commissioner attended an informal dinner with the Farm Ministers from the devolved administrations (Wales – Elin Jones, Scotland – Richard Lochhead; and Northern Ireland – Michelle Gildernew) where discussions centred around the post-2013 CAP.
One of the key points of discussion was the importance of allowing flexibility to Member States and regions to define the policies best suited to the specificities of agriculture in those areas, on the basis of common objectives. Senior representatives from the National Farmers Union (NFU), Country Landowners & Business Association (CLA) and Linking Environment and Farming (LEAF) were also present.
