Britain lacks influence in Europe

The UK represents 12 per cent of the EU population but its citizens make up only 6 per cent of Commission civil servants.

Only Romania is less well represented, and even it recently secured the coveted job of European Agriculture Commissioner.

The revelation will be no surprise to many in the agriculture industry who have for years blamed a raft of unnecessary regulation – on pesticides, Nitrate Vulnerable Zones and EID for instance – on Britain’s inability to influence policy.

But it will cause great concern to farmers that British minds are not at the heart of Brussels discussions when key decisions are made on the future of the CAP after 2013.

France, Germany and Italy have traditionally occupied the most civil servant positions in Europe – a fact some would argue is reflected in EU policy.

The Government was heavily criticised recently when it cut funding for around 30 scholarships to the College of Europe – a traditional breeding ground for high-flying Euro-civil servants.

“It is not clear where the next generation is going to come from,” rued one British diplomat.

To reverse the trend, however, the Government has resolved to train UK civil servants in ‘everything EU’ in the hope they will go on to pass the annual Commission entrance exam (known as the ‘concours’) and take up important jobs in Brussels.

But farming unions fear the damage has already been done.

“It is a pity the Cabinet Office did not spot the shortage of British officials in the European Commission some years ago,” said Harry Cotterell, CLA deputy president. 

He said the lack of Brits was particularly critical given the most senior member in the Commission’s agriculture department had recently quit for an appointment in Spain.

“This does not help when reforms of Europe’s agricultural policy are entering a most important stage,” he said.

The European Commission is the driving force behind all regulation in Europe and while British employees cannot overtly push a national agenda, their involvement in the drafting of new policy proposals would be seen as a positive move.

A spokesman in the NFU Brussels office said it was ‘late’ but welcomed Whitehall’s intention to encourage more Brits into senior European roles.

 “Commission civil servants are of course European, not member state representatives, but it can only be helpful to have Commission officials who understand the UK situation and background,” said the NFU spokesman.

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