Billions less for CAP
French want strict border with England
If it is up to Arnold Puech-d'Alissac, vice president of the largest French farmers' advocacy organization FNSEA, there will be tightly controlled borders with the United Kingdom. He also fears a loss of billions for the common agricultural policy.
The main concern for the FNSEA is the CAP budget in the European Union, after the United Kingdom's withdrawal. Puech-d'Alissac fears that billions of euros less in subsidies will become available. On the other hand, the UK will lose all of its European financial funds and the European market. "We have 18 months for a deal with the UK. It will certainly come," he says.
Protecting Northern Ireland
The Vice-President is also concerned about the Irish border and the risk of non-EU goods crossing the country border. "There must be a solution for this, because a hard border between Northern Ireland and the republic is not possible. Perhaps we can create strict controls," he suggests.
Strictly check borders
Puech-d'Alissac is not alone with such ideas. Earlier, a colleague of his, chairman of another representative, said that they also advocate a strict border between EU and non-EU countries. This should ensure that food cannot just cross the border. The French fear that Northern Ireland is being used as a back door to funnel food into the EU. For example, lamb from New Zealand. Christophe Hillairet, chairman of the agricultural department Ile de France, spoke about this earlier.
French preach to their own parish
The Irish, meanwhile, are not so concerned about Brexit. John Cromer, director of Old Irish Creamery cheese factory, says only anti-EU British eurosceptics are interested in the French's arguments. "The French should look more closely at the common goals and not just at their own agricultural sectors," Cromer said.
French must cooperate with Irish
Martin Kenny, agricultural spokesperson for Northern Ireland's political party Sinn Féin's, shares Cromer's view: "Even Irish farmers don't want a wave of non-EU food imports into the country. However, it is sad that the French are only tackling the problem in a Treating yourself in a self-centered way and not listening to what Northern Ireland itself wants. Saying that a strict border crossing is necessary certainly does not help."
Niels van der Boom
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