There has been uproar in the European Parliament over the proposal by German politician Maria Noichl (SPD), who believes that active farmers should not vote on the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Noichl argues that Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) receiving CAP funds themselves should abstain from voting.
Noichl spoke of a "clear conflict of interest" if active farmers were allowed to vote on CAP reform. The Bavarian Social Democrat said last week in the agriculture committee that "participation" of farmers in EU committees is "absolutely important and unproblematic," but not when it comes to certain votes on area payments or subsidies.
Noichl cited a newspaper report about Austrian Green MEP Sarah Wiener, who received more than €350,000 in direct CAP payments. For Peter Jahr (CDU), one of the rapporteurs on CAP reform, the amount was over €110,000. The family of CSU parliamentarian Marlene Mortler received over €75,000, and Ulrike Müller of the Free Voters obtained a five-figure sum on average.
The Austrian Wiener responded initially by calling it a "dirty campaign" by the SPD politician against her and other farmers in the AGRI committee. The chair of the agriculture committee, Norbert Lins (CDU), also defended the active farmers against Noichl's criticism. Lins emphasized that he was grateful for every farmer in the technical committee.
Currently, the final preparations are underway in Brussels and Strasbourg for the plenary votes at the beginning of October in the European Parliament on the new CAP. Noichl pointed out that in many EU countries it is common practice for politicians to abstain from voting when matters concern their own private or business interests. She believes European voting procedures should be adjusted accordingly.