During the last meeting of the NAT commission a discussion took place with Mr Czeslaw Adam Siekierski, Chair of the European Parliament's AGRI Committee on 'The Future of EU Rural Policy'. The debate was chaired by 1st Vice-Chair of Nat Commission, Cllr Tony Buchanan.
On behalf of the EA Group, Cllr Enda Stenson, EA coordinator for the Nat commission, called for more efficient broadband in rural areas. He also addressed some practical issues which need to be assured across the EU to keep the young farmers on the farm: "There is a need to provide practical courses to young farmers which will increase their knowledge base and enhance their businesses. There is a need for encouragement by governments of schemes which will allow farmers to stay on their family farms."
At the end he highlighted the need for urban-rural balance: "I have focused on farmers as I believe that they are at the core of building a vibrant rural economy. For this we should develop a Rural-Urban balance in EU policies – and not just urban -urban which we hear as a priority in many EU meetings. It is time for the rural areas to be treated equally"
