LOCAL FARMERS COME TO BRUSSELS AND MEET EURO MP LIZ LYNNE

12.18.00pm GMT Wed 7th Nov 2007

A group of West Midlands farmers and the region's National Farmers' Union board this week came to Brussels and met local Euro MPs, including local Liberal Democrat Liz Lynne, as well as receiving a tour of the European Parliament and participating in a visit to a farm in Belgium.

Speaking today after a meeting with the delegation, Liz Lynne MEP, who is Joint Agriculture Spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament, said:

"As ever it was extremely useful to meet with the NFU delegation to talk about the main issues affecting them, including amongst other things new EU legislation on pesticides and soil. Shortly afterwards I was delighted to be able to personally relay some of their concerns to the Agriculture Commissioner Marian Fischer Boel.

"Farmers have had a rough time in the last couple of years, after Government errors with the single farm payments scheme and insufficient support in the face of national outbreaks of Foot and Mouth.

"Bluetongue and the flooding over the summer have also hit the region's farmers hard; but it is vital they stay in touch and do not lose faith in what politicians can do to help."