Bid for aid to E.E.C. farmers

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33628, 2 September 1974, Page 13

Bid for aid to E.E.C. farmers

(N.Z.P A.-Reuter—Copyright) BRUSSELS, September 1. The European Economic Community’s Commission will propose a 4 per cent across-the-board increase in the Common Market’s guaranteed farm prices when the Ministers of Agriculture of the Nine hold an emergency meeting in Brussels on Tuesday, according to reliable sources in the Belgian capital.

The executive of 13 men has decided to call for all-round price increases from October 1 because of “the exceptional economic straits facing the Community’s farmers.”

The 4 per dent price rise would complement a range of other measures being put forward by the commission to help farmers hit by soaring production costs and falling market prices.

These measures would involve a number of monetary

adjustments, including a de facto devaluation of the pound sterling for farm trade purposes.

Ireland was pressing for such a devaluation before the summer recess: Irish farmers would benefit through the consequent rise in guaranteed prices expressed in sterling terms.

Theoretically, British farmers would also benefit, but in practical terms they would have little to gain, since Britain opted out of the Common Market Agricultural Policy’s guaranteed-support buying system.