03/09/09

Labour Party Spokesman on Agriculture and Food Seán Sherlock TD has welcomed the acknowledgement made by the European Agriculture Commissioner that the passing of the Lisbon Treaty would mean that the Common Agricultural Policy would come under ‘Co-Decision.' This will allow greater powers for the European Parliament Agriculture Committee.

Following the speech made by Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel to the European Parliament this week, Deputy Sherlock agreed that there would be a significant expansion of the European Parliament Agriculture Committee's powers should the Treaty get the green light.

 

 

"The powers of the Agricultural Committee will be extended if the Lisbon Treaty is passed. This will bring about a procedure called the ‘co-decision' process which allows the European Parliament to co-decide with the Council of Ministers and the European Commission in areas of agricultural policy.

 

 

"The situation at present is such that the European Parliament Agriculture Committee can only give ‘an opinion' on any matter related to agricultural policy.

"In her speech to the Agricultural Committee on September 1st last, Commissioner Fischer Boel acknowledged that "co-decision will start if the Lisbon Treaty comes into force," - in other words the Agricultural Committee will act as co-legislator with the Council of Ministers in relation to agricultural policy, this is why the Lisbon Treaty is important to the agricultural interest in Ireland.

 

 

"Given that we are entering into an uncertain phase, whereby milk quotas will be abolished in 2015 and the CAP HealthCheck will also come into force, it will be vital that the Irish MEPs on the Agricultural Committee will have an equal say with the Council of Ministers on the future of agri-business in this country.

 

 

"Notwithstanding the short term thinking of the Irish government in cutting vital schemes, it is crucial that we take a long term view on the prospects for Irish agriculture and the extension of the powers of the Agriculture Committee will greatly enhance Ireland's prospects by giving us more of a say through our MEPs if we vote yes to Lisbon.

 

 

"Traditional decision making procedures in relation to agriculture are based on the Agriculture Minister seeking to get the best deal possible at meetings of his or her fellow Agriculture Ministers. The Lisbon Treaty adds another power broker in that decision making process because it gives the Agriculture Committee of the European Parliament an equal say with the Council of Ministers on agricultural matters. This enhances the democratic functions of the European Union."

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