Alongside the European Parliament’s Sustainable Hunting, Biodiversity, Countryside Activities and Forestry Intergroup and the Federation of Associations for Hunting and Conservation of the EU (FACE), Mr. Sturdy chaired a very productive discussion that was also attended by Ms. Bastino of the European Commission. The aim of the seminar was to influence the Commission’s upcoming proposal for an EU Strategy on invasive Alien Species, which is expected to be presented in 2012.

Invasive Alien Species are a major cause of biodiversity loss. In the UK the American Grey Squirrel has out competed, and in many parts of the UK replaced, the native red. Aside from the cost to biodiversity there is also a cost to the economy. Invasive Alien Species are estimated to cost theUKeconomy over £2 billion a year. In the EU this figure is estimated to be £10 billion.

Speaking after chairing the event, Mr. Sturdy said:

“Invasive Alien Species are not only clear and present dangers to European biodiversity, their effects are felt by our rural communities and it is thought that they cost the UK and EU billions of Euros every year. It is very important that we recognise the scale of the threat and deal with it accordingly. ”

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For further information contact: Robert Sturdy MEP– robert.sturdy@europarl.europa.eu

Tel: 01954 211790 or 0032 2284 7294

or visit www.robertsturdymep.com

In a meeting of national farming ministers earlier this week, Commissioner Dali outlined the Commission’s plan to send out warning letters to the 11 member-states, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Portugal and Romania, that have yet to fully implement the ban, calling on them to update the Commission on the status of their preparations for the pending ban.

Mr. Dali also noted that the Commission remains fully committed to the ban and indicated that the Commission is poised to launch infringement proceedings from January 2012 against those member-states which have failed to comply with the ban in time.

According to current figures, EU officials estimate that there will be some 51 million hens held in illegal battery cages when the laying hens directive enters into force at the beginning of next year.

Robert Sturdy speaking inStrasbourgafter the event was cautiously optimistic about the statement:

‘Although I welcome the news that the Commission is finally coming to terms with the scale of the problem, I fear that the number of member-states not fully compliant and the number of eggs being produced from illegal cages will be too big a task for the Commission to handle.’

‘I have been very critical of the way in which the Commission has handled this mess but some of the blame certainly falls at the feet of the non-compliant national governments. Both have had 12 years to get their houses in order and have failed miserably. UK farmers on the other hand should be praised for their efficiency in implementing the directive.’

‘It is imperative that the EU finds a solution to this problem and ensures that those farmers that have implemented the directive do not face a competitive disadvantage from cheaper, less animal friendly eggs from non-compliant countries’

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For further information contact: Robert Sturdy MEP– robert.sturdy@europarl.europa.eu

Tel: 01954 211790 or 0032 2284 7294

or visit

robertsturdymep.com

Robert Sturdy, East of England MEP and member of the European Parliament’s Agriculture and Rural Development Committee has warned that certain measures in the CAP proposals, coupled with the rising population, will lead to higher food prices across the UK and at worst could lead to severe food shortages.

Mr. Sturdy is concerned that certain measures included in the Commission’s proposals could effectively lead to a 30 % reduction in the amount of arable land farmers are allowed to use for food production. This reduction in EU arable land will occur at a time when the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation has indicated that food production must rise by 70% by 2050 if the growing world population is to be adequately fed.

Speaking today Mr. Sturdy highlighter his concerns:

‘As the world’s population reaches 7 billion, and is expected to reach 9 billion by 2050, the EU is proposing restrictive measures that could mean that UK farmers are forced to limit their food production by some 30%.These two factors will likely lead to an increase in food costs across the UK at a time when households are struggling to make ends meet.’

‘Even with all the talk of food security in Europe at the moment the European Commission has not taken the potential scale of the problem on board. Aside from the fact that the EU will be restricting the farmers’ right to chose which crops to grow, aspects of the CAP reform may prove to be very costly and potentially dangerous’

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For further information contact: Robert Sturdy MEP– robert.sturdy@europarl.europa.eu

Tel: 01954 211790 or 0032 2284 7294

or visit

robertsturdymep.com

In a tight vote on many key issues, MEPs voted for further decoupling of payments and a strengthening and ‘greening’ of rural development aspects of the CAP, in order to tailor the policy to better meet the new challenges of feeding a growing and more affluent global population. However, there is still a long way to go, as MEPs also backed calls for some coupled payments to remain. They also rejected calls for greater fairness and equality regarding payments to new EU countries.

The parliament’s position will help the European Commission to come forward with legislative proposals at the end of the year.

Speaking after the vote, Mr Sturdy said:

“Reform of the CAP has been a long time coming and I believe that the proposal adopted by the European Parliament is certainly a step in the right direction.”

“The success of the Parliament’s proposal is that it underlines the importance of a market approach to agriculture but rejects the application of yet more controls and restraints on our farmers. It also has a greater focus on rural development, or the so called ‘greening of the CAP’.”

“I hope that the Commission takes on board the position of the Parliament so that our farmers can continue to provide the vital public goods that are essential to our society.”

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For further information contact: Robert Sturdy MEP– robert.sturdy@europarl.europa.eu

Tel: 01954 211790 or 0032 2284 7294

ROBERT STURDY TAKES PAUL MCCARTNEY TO TASK OVER HIS MEAT REDUCTION CAMPAIGN

Eating less meat does not mean less climate change, said Eastern Region MEP Robert Sturdy, in response to a “Meat Free Monday” campaign which Sir Paul McCartney is taking  to Brussels tomorrow.

Sir Paul’s campaign calls for everyone to avoid eating meat one day every week in order to fight climate change.

Mr Sturdy, who sits on the Agriculture Committee, disagrees with the issues raised by the ex-Beatle.

He said:  “In the UK our livestock production systems are already highly sustainable and are essential for our future food security.  Eating less meat will not mean less climate change.  Such a simplified message takes no account of the fact that much of our agricultural land in the UK is unsuitable for arable and vegetable crops.  It is clear that Sir Paul does not understand livestock production.

“Focussing on a single issue as a way of saving the planet is irresponsible and will be counterproductive in the long run.  It is likely that we will become more dependant on other imported sources of protein, such as soya, which will lead to an increase in the amount of rainforest felled to make way for cultivation.  What we should be doing is investing in agricultural research and development to enable farmers to produce food more efficiently with less impact.”

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