Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson has welcomed the news that the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dacian Ciolos, has accepted his personal invitation to visit Northern Ireland later this year. Mr. Nicholson, agriculture co-ordinator for the ECR Group, revealed that he had secured the commitment from Mr. Ciolos this week and that his office was now working closely with the head of the Commissioner’s office to draw up plans for a visit to the province in early Autumn.

Speaking about the news Jim said: “I am delighted that the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dacian Ciolos, has accepted my invitation to visit Northern Ireland. The outcome of the current reform of the CAP will shape agriculture for years to come, because of this and due to the importance of agriculture to Northern Ireland as a whole I thought that it was important to extend a personal invitation to the Commissioner to come to the province.

Given the complexity of the negotiations the fact that the Commissioner is willing to take time from his busy schedule and visit us later this year is significant and will provide Northern Ireland with a unique opportunity to both outline our concerns about the CAP reform proposals to him plus give the Commissioner an insight into the nature of the local agricultural industry.”

The Commissioner is planning to meet with Mr. Nicholson in Northern Ireland as part of a series of visits to the constituencies of the European Parliament’s agriculture co-ordinators.

Jim concluded: “My office is currently working with the Commissioner’s Chef de cabinet to arrange an itinerary and although planning is still at an early stage it is likely that the trip will be scheduled for early Autumn, I am pleased to have secured this commitment and I look forward to welcoming the Commissioner to Northern Ireland later this year.”

ENDS.