October 19 Brussels

Oct. 19

Our last day in Europe!  We began the day by visiting the DBV office and hearing a presentation from Tiffanie Stephani, she is over environmental issues for the DBV which is a major concern with the EU Ag policy.  She explained how the EU works, and the challenge of lobbying here in Brussels.  The DBV has 6 staff members in Brussels, they figure about 90% of Germany's Ag policy is decided in Brussels.  The EU has more impact on agriculture in Germany than the German government.  All German states and farming organization also have representation in Brussels; most farm organizations are housed in the same office building to make it easier to coordinate their efforts.  She spoke about most of the same issues we have heard before.  Her opinion is that most German farmers are not in favor of the EU because most do not understand what the EU does for them.  Willie Kampmann stepped into the meeting and stated that about 1/4 of all German jobs are related to the export market and 70% of exports are to EU countries.  He claims it is very important for German Ag to have an equal currency (the Euro) and open access to EU markets.  He did admit that it has been very difficult to create one currency with 27 different financial policies and those are still trying to be resolved

We next went to the EU Parliament where with visited with Dr. Andreas Schneider, he is the main agricultural adviser for Parliament, and is involved with most Ag policy development.  Again we talked about many of the same issues that we have been discussing for the last three weeks and especially with all of the people we have met with here in Brussels.  It appears to me that farmers all over face many of the same issue, the interesting thing is to see the different approaches to salving those problems.  Germany tends to look for the government to help them out and expects government payments to maintain profitability.  They are trying to do away with supply controls and trying to evaluate more equitable ways to disperse farm payments.   Dr. Schneider was interested in our crop insurance programs, there is some support to create a similar program, he is not in favor of the idea but had several questions.

We had lunch in the parliament cafeteria, the food was not very good, and it was very crowded.  I would not recommend it.  We then went on a 3 hour walking tour with a tour guide that spoke very little English and I think understood even less.  It was the longest afternoon of the trip.  We figure that we walked over 5 miles, by the end we are all worn out.  Paul hailed a taxi and left less than half way through, the rest of us wished we had gone with him.

We had our final dinner with Tiffanie at a little restaurant in down town Brussels.  It was a sea food palace which made everyone but me happy; I did have a good lamb dinner though.  We said goodbye to Robert who leaves early in the morning before the rest of us.  It has been a good trip, once in a life time, but we are all starting to talk of home and it is time to go.