Lyon meets Highland Council Convenor in Brussels at new Rural Committee (East Renfrewshire Liberal Democrats)

East Renfrewshire Liberal Democrats <info@eastrenfrewshirelibdems.org.uk>

Lyon meets Highland Council Convenor in Brussels at new Rural Committee

February 23, 2010 5:25 PM
Originally published by George Lyon - Liberal Democrat MEP for Scotland

George Lyon, Liberal Democrat MEP for Scotland, has met with Cllr Sandy Park of Highland Council in Brussels as Cllr Park attended his first meeting at the Committee of the Regions (CoR) following nomination by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA).

Mr Lyon was contributing to a debate on the future of Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) in which Cllr Park outlined the importance of continued agricultural support to Highland communities.

Commenting, Mr Lyon said:

"I am delighted that Cllr Park has joined the CoR. His input will be invaluable as the reform of the CAP moves forward.

"It is vital that the interests of Scottish farmers are put front and centre and I will meet with Cllr Park and his Highland council colleagues in the coming weeks to discuss CAP reform in detail."

Cllr Park said:

"I am very pleased to see my fellow Scot, George Lyon MEP sitting here and I look forward to working with George on this issue over the next few months. The future of CAP post 2013 is an issue which is generating huge interest and a great deal of political debate back home in Scotland.

"There is a great debate on CAP post 2013 whether EU Rural Development policy should address mainly socio-economic regeneration of these communities or farm related activities. Either way the bottom line outcome that should result of the current discussions is to prevent leaving rural communities worse off."