Farmers losing out to EU “Fraudsters” Angers Elliott
Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA Tom Elliott has stated his anger at figures revelling that billions of pounds that should be released to farmers across Europe is instead been given to businesses who are not entitled to a penny.
Mr Elliott said: “Figures released by the European Court of Auditors show that upwards of 2.8 billion pound was wasted or mismanaged by the EU during 2006. Some of this money was due to be put into farming initiatives including here in the United Kingdom, at a time when the agricultural industry needs all the support it can get. To hear of such a loss is aggravating to say the least. However, what is worse is the fact that much of the mismanaged money is going to companies such as Golf Clubs and railway companies when many of them are not entitled to any of the funding.”
The figures released meant that for the thirteenth year in a row the European Court of Auditors was unable to give EU spending a ‘clean bill of health’. Rather, it stated that individual members of the EU, who are responsible for overseeing up to 80% of EU funding, are failing their citizens by not efficiently monitoring who is getting money more carefully.
The Ulster Unionist Agricultural spokesman went on to say: “It is a disgrace that so many farmers are losing out due to the mishandling of money. We cannot afford to be wasting funds or giving it away to people who are not eligible. The necessary checks should be reviewed to see how this money is being allowed to go to companies that should not be receiving it. If the government are serious about helping the agricultural industry then it is vital that the look into this, and see how things can be improved.”