CEETAR
CEETTAR NEWS CEETTAR responds to early CAP Reform communications: where is the vision?
CEETTAR president Klaus Pentzlin,(centre) with FCI national chairman Richard White (left) and Brendan Hughes, Kilkenny at the recent Agritechnica Show, where FCI and BLU, the German contractors association held some information meetings.
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EETTAR has been part of the public and stakeholders consultation process, representing land-based contractors in contributing to the EU Commission roadmap for future developments in the Common Agricultural Policy. Agricultural, rural and forestry contractors reacted with disappointment to the publication of the communication on the future of the CAP. Admittedly, good intentions are on the horizon, but the EU Commission is missing out on real reform that would put the sector in a position to respond to the economic, societal, environmental and technological challenges that are already imposed on them and will be imposed within the next 10 years. Klaus Pentzlin, president of CEETTAR, said, “The Commission is maintaining a strong agricultural policy and this is good news. The communication is, however, disappointing as the simplification effort seems to be the Commission's first priority. It is off the mark!” In its communication, however, the Commission proposes some interesting ideas. The promotion of smart farming, for example,the success of which relies on the level of support to agricultural contractors who in turn make the latest technology available to all farmers. The commitment to implement the Cork 2.0 Declaration is also welcome,
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although the Commission needs to strengthen its measures for rural development. We must not limit ourselves to smart villages lost in deserts but aim for progress throughout the territory. Moreover, an ambitious policy for the European Union is based firstly on common legislation on the continent; in fact, subsidiarity must be taken with care. Europe is at the beginning of the CAP Reform process and CEETTAR will discuss the expectations of contractors with the EU Commissioner and the Commission services to contribute to a more competitive agriculture and forestry sector, including: • Integrating all actors in the agriculture and forestry value chain into policy priorities and implementation measures; • Effective use of European taxpayers' money with a CAP focused primarily on tangible results; • A real application of the notion of fair competition for a more efficient CAP; • Maintaining a strong sustainable development policy to support economic activity in rural areas to better support farmers; • Better consideration of the forest's potential for the environment and the rural economy in the CAP. CEETTAR provides EU Commission input on new regulations CEETTAR has provided feedback to the EU Commission on the proposal for a regulation on the requirements of what are called mobile machinery, which includes tractors and self-propelled farm machinery. The main objective of this is to achieve a single market for mobile machinery (self-propelled mobile and towed machinery which are intended to be operated on the public roads. As a result it would address the specific objectives of reducing costs and administrative burden, removing market obstacles deriving from different safety requirements for the design and manufacturing of such machinery in various EU Member States and maintaining a high level of safety throughout the whole. In the EU Commission’s view, mobile machinery includes a wide range of machinery sectors and
Agri Contractors
19/12/2017 12:33