Surfbirds News

This week an award-winning exhibition of images in BirdLife International's "Europe's Countryside Alive" photo competition, depicting the breathtaking diversity of the EU's countryside and the wildlife that it shelters, will be officially opened in Brussels as European leaders hold key discussions on the future of the EU's budget with critical consequences for the countryside and its wildlife. The stunning results of this photo competition show what would be lost forever if EU decision makers cut the budget for rural development as currently proposed.

Birds and other wildlife, such as plants, insects and mammals share open fields, meadows and hedges and depend upon farmland for their survival. Populations of wild species have drastically declined over the last 30 years, as a result of European agriculture and rural development policies, which have encouraged intensive farming throughout the EU.

As leaders shape the future budget in making the final deal on the financial perspective 2007-2013 next week, BirdLife is calling for them to not only to safeguard but also increase rural development funds in order to support wildlife-friendly farming schemes throughout the EU. If the budget for this programme is cut by Member States, some of our most precious natural heritage could be lost forever.

Giovanna Pisano, BirdLife International's Agriculture Task Force Coordinator, commented on the proposals "The current budget proposal goes against the spirit of EU agricultural policy reform, which established the need for more money for sustainable farming. If it is agreed, it will be a very sad day for rural Europe. We cannot jeopardise measures that are fundamental to sustainable agriculture and rural development."

"Decisions made now should encourage not hinder the ongoing policy reforms championed by the previous EU farm commissioner, Franz Fischler. We have strong reasons (7) to protect and increase the rural development budget - and there has not been a single good reason given for cutting it.

From 31st May 2005, a series of exhibitions will display the award-winning entries to this photo competition, which has been supported by over one-thousand amateur photographers from all over the World. A special ceremony to make awards to the winners of this competition will be made in the European Parliament on 1st June hosted by Dorette Corbey, MEP.

See ''Europe's Countryside Alive" from 31st May 2005, at:
* The European Parliament, Brussels from 31-05-05 to 03-06-05 (via
parliamentary access only)
* The European Commission's Green Week, Brussels from 31-05-05 to
03-06-05 BirdLife International's stand number 50.
* Or browse the winning entries online at
www.birdlifecapcampaign.org