International

SP Member of Parliament Eric Smaling wants the government to spend agricultural subsidies from Brussels more intelligently and direct them at defending the natural environment. 'I don’t support the payment of these enormous subsidies from Brussels,’ says Smaling, ‘but as they’re being paid anyway we could spend them in better ways, to stimulate organic and pesticide-free agriculture and eco-tourism. The possibility is there, so let’s use it.’

According to Smaling the government still has a great deal of work to do, and the SP proposes that first and foremost farm subsidies should be directed to where they can do most good when it comes to increasing biodiversity. Farmers who organise visits or excursions for schoolchildren or lay cycle-paths or footpaths should also be considered for payments from the EU subsidies. ‘You can use the subsidies to build massive pigsties or mega-stalls or to promote our country’s natural; environment,’ notes Smaling. ‘We prefer the latter. Better to have more sustainable tourism and pesticide-free agriculture than yet more fertilizer and intensive agriculture.’