‘Neighbourly’ deal urged as terms are negotiated

Delegates told work continues over future trade agreements

The EU’S “best and brightest” brains have been tasked with negotiating future trade deals with the UK, NFU Scotland (NFUS) delegates were told at their autumn conference at Battleby.

Maeve Whyte, the director of BAB, the UK farmers unions office in Brussels, outlined the leading members of the EU’S 400-strong trade team, including commissioner Phil Hogan who is completing his term as farm commissioner, and insisted the UK could not afford to take its eyes off the ball.

Responding to questions from farmers about the prospect of a future level playing field with Europe, Ms Whyte emphasised there would be issues if the UK deviated from European regulations.

“If the UK wants frictionless trade then regulations need to be on a par, otherwise trade can’t be seamless,” she said.

“We’ve had a level playing field up to now so, particularly in the first few years, that level playing field will be our potential.”

Asked about the current direction of the Common Agricultural Policy, she said the future was “green”.

“As Europe’s closest neighbours, we would be fools if we weren’t looking across the water to see what our colleagues are working on in terms of

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An aggressive no deal will not be appreciated. BAB DIRECTOR MAEVE WHYTE

policy,” she explained. “Environmental issues and climate change are on the agenda.

“How that balances with innovation and new technologies we don’t know, but the direction of travel is green.”

She also emphasised the importance Brussels attaches to relationships.

“Relationships are paramount, they’re the way you get your message across, and the way we leave the EU is going to be very important for us as lobbyists and how we work within the EU in future,” she said.

“An aggressive no deal will not be appreciated, but if we have a neighbourly deal and continue to work successfully we should be fine.”

Picture: Christina Simpson. The cow walk ahead of the morning traffic as cattle are herded back from their summer grazing in Abernyte glen to Milton Farm, Abernyte.