Mairead McGuinness and the Common Agricultural Policy

I'm not much of an expert on the EU's Common Agricultural Policy, but if I have not picked up things wrong, our government is on the wrong side of the EU budget and WTO negotiations, supporting the Common Agricultural Policy against the interests of the worlds poorer countries. Last night I watched 'Ear to the Ground', RTE's agricultural programme. In response I sent the following message to the aid organisation Bóthar. Hopefully their reply will relieve me of my simplistic notion that the sacrosanct interests of a pressure group in one of the world's richest countries are being put before the interests of the poor:

Hi

I watched Ear to the Ground yesterday and saw Mairéad McGuinness MEP visit Africa in association with Bóthar. I am sure her motivation is the highest, but I have to express my concern at Bóthar associating itself so strongly with defending the CAP.

Is it not true that the CAP subsidizes our exports, and thereby makes it impossible for farmers on poorer continents to compete? (also known as dumping)

Also, is is not completely hypocritical to seek protection in one area of our economy where we would not withstand global market forces, while seeking new and open markets in the high-tech added-value sectors in which we dominate.

I also note that the programme gave a platform for someone standing in the next election to express their views in an unchallenged manner.

Am I wrong to be concerned about all this?

Does Bóthar have a policy document that addresses the distorting effects on global trade of the CAP?

Yours sincerely

Daniel Dunne

Bóthar have yet to respond to my message.

posted by Daniel @ Friday, December 16, 2005