EU links still vital despite Brexit

Although it is far from clear if the 73 UK MEPS elected today will even take their seats in June, NFU Scotland’s representative in Brussels claimed yesterday that it would be “too easy to disregard these elections”.

Maeve Why te, director of the UK unions’ office in the hub of the EU said it was wrong to assume that UK MEPS would not be in Brussels for long.

“Brexit or not, the Brussels policy wheels keep turning on farming issues and we simply cannot just stand on the side-lines and hope for the best,” she said.

She added that the makeup of the new parliament was likely to be considerably different from the current one. “There is concern that some new MEPS may lack an understanding or knowledge of our [farming] industry and therefore will not challenge unin - formed, headline grabbing views,” she said.

“The rise in what some colleagues describe as populist Euroscepticism may mean some MEPssimply don’t engage on issues important to our sector.”

She added: “Whether it be science-led decisionmaking or respecting our high standards in trade deals, we intend to work with and through Euro - pean colleagues to ensure all MEPS receive a message that reflect our common concerns and whatever the political persuasion of the new UK MEPS, we will be inviting them to meet and discuss our priorities.”

This plan did not depend on how the UK relationship with the EU evolved over the coming months and years. “EU regulation will still b e impor tant to us. A close connection may result in common rules but even a more distant relationship may mean EU policies still apply for trade.

“We must therefore continue to do all we can to influence those – from the UK and the EU – who shape those policies.”