Your Say

31/01/2006
Taking a real Welsh breakfast to Brussels
Western Mail

There is a great deal of support for quality Welsh food among our European neighbours.

That support came to the fore once again last week when I was privileged to lead a Farmers' Union of Wales delegation to Brussels, where Euro MPs and officials enjoyed a breakfast of Welsh food flown out specially for the occasion.

The FUW event forms part of Farmhouse Breakfast Week, an initiative that aims to get as many people to eat a healthy, nutritious breakfast every day.

The breakfast was sponsored by Hybu Cig Cymru and the Welsh Development Agency's Agri Food directorate, and the arrangements for the day were made by Wales Conservative Euro MP Jonathan Evans and his staff.

I was delighted to see so many politicians and officials from across the 25 member states of the EU at the breakfast, and extremely pleased when so many told me that they had thoroughly enjoyed the food we had brought over.

Another gem of good news came from Peter Hardwick of the Meat and Livestock Commission, who revealed that traders in France were keen to obtain large quantities of British beef once all export restrictions have been lifted.

The lifting of all restrictions was a point I made to Defra Minister Margaret Beckett, whom I met later that same day after she had given evidence to Europe's Agriculture Committee. I told Mrs Beckett that farmers were keen to see these restrictions lifted as quickly as possible, and I was comforted by her commitment to do everything possible to move matters forward swiftly.

I was also reassured by the support by Mr Evans and all our other Euro MPs – Labour's Glenys Kinnock and Eluned Morgan and Plaid Cymru's Jill Evans - who all voiced their support for Welsh farming during our two-day visit to Brussels. It's fair to say that they all have the best interests of Welsh farmers at heart. But while in Brussels the task facing Welsh farmers was also brought home to me when I visited a restaurant – and found Brazilian steak and New Zealand lamb on the menu!

Given that choice I opted for fish – with the hope that by the time I return for the 2007 FUW Welsh breakfast, Welsh beef and lamb will be available throughout the city!

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