We are urgently developing research requirements with other European laboratories to make sure we understand and the disease (Schmallenberg) better.Romanian ‘reformer’ confirmed as EU agriculture chief
ROMANIAN politician Dacian Ciolos has been confirmed as the new European Commissioner for Agriculture and will lead reform of the CAP after 2013.
Mr Ciolos, who describes himself as a ‘CAP reformer’, will take office today (Wednesday, February 10), replacing the outgoing commissioner, Marrian Fischer Boel.
The Romanian will play a pivotal role as Brussels sets out its stall on how best to spend the EU’s multi-billion pound agriculture budget.
Mr Ciolos was a controversial choice for some after French president Nicholas Sarkozy described him as ‘France’s second commissioner’.
The former Romanian agriculture Minister was also a concern given his country’s mismanagement of EU funds.
However, he has won praise from some quarters for his commitment to CAP reform, albeit while maintaining a strong budget.
In a recent statement to Parliament he said: “The CAP needs to be reformed and reform does not mean reducing financial support but adapting it to tackle the new challenges.
“European farmers want stability and predictability, European consumers expect safe and healthy food and European taxpayers need assurance that their money is spent in an efficient and transparent way.”
Given his French connections it is thought he will be a strong proponent of Nicholas Sarkozy’s plan to maintain direct payments to farmers – which currently account for 70 per cent of the agriculture budget.
This goes against the UK government’s plan to phase out direct support.
All 27 commissioners-elect were subject to a single vote at the European Parliament yesterday and all were accepted with a comprehensive 488 votes in favour to 137 against and 72 abstentions.
