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About the UFU in Brussels
The UFU, along with the other UK NFUs, is part of the British Agriculture Bureau (BAB) and over the past four decades the BAB has developed a reputation as one of the most astute and well-connected of all farm lobby groups in Brussels.
Since 1973, when the UK joined the European Union, the rules and regulations on agriculture and the environment have come hard and fast. From the type of fuel you put into your tractor, to the size of your single farm payment. From how to tag your livestock, to which pesticides you can spray on your crop. Given this monumental impact on British agriculture it is essential that the UK farming unions are working in Brussels to shape legislation from its inception. Changing law after the ink is dry can be impossible.
About BAB
- Established in 1972 the British Agriculture Bureau is the voice of UK farmers in Brussels
- BAB represents the NFU, NFU Scotland, NFU Cymru, Ulster Farmers Union and the National Pig Association
- BAB has an expert office of 6 staff
- Every year BAB receives more than 200 members to learn about the EU
Read more about the UFU in Brussels...
The Players
Three major institutions play a role in the decision-making process of the EU:
The UFU's aim is to lobby these institutions to ensure that the concerns of farmers in Northern Ireland are taken into consideration during the decision-making process.
Poland is currently responsiblity for the Presidency of the European Council for the duration of six months (starting from 1st July 2011). This means they chair meetings, negotiate deals and set agendas for all European Council meetings until the end of December. The Presidency has set out its work programme which has three overarching priorities:
- European integration as a source of growth
- Secure Europe – food, energy and defence
- Europe benefiting from openness
For more information about the Polish Presidency priorities click here
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Maeve Whyte – Director
Maeve joined the NFU as a graduate trainee after studying at university in Dublin and London. She was the Water and Climate Change policy adviser in the NFU’s environment department for over two years and moved to Brussels in 2005. She has been the BAB Director since February 2006.
Main areas of responsibility: CAP, EU budget
Dawn Howard – Assistant Director
Dawn joined the BAB office in 2009, from her previous role in the NFU’s Food Chain Unit. Prior to this she developed a breadth of knowledge across the agricultural and horticultural sectors, having worked in a number of policy and enforcement posts at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
She has also worked within the private sector in overseas consultancy. She is a botanist by training but is equally at home dealing with animal health and welfare issues.
Main areas of responsibility: Food chain, animal health and welfare
Katy Lee – Assistant Director
Katy came to work at the Brussels office in 2006 after working as an intern at the European Parliament. She has established valuable networks at the heart of the EU policy machine in Brussels and works hard to get the best out of Europe for UFU members, as well as trying to stop the bad policies reaching UK shores.
Main areas of responsibility: Labelling, GMOs and climate change
Sian Davies – Assistant Director
Before moving to Brussels in May 2011, Sian was the NFU’s Dairy Adviser – a role she’d held for two years. She has also worked for Defra as an Animal Health Officer, in Rural Development and milked cows in New Zealand for three years. Proud of her Welsh roots, Sian still travels back to rural Carmarthenshire to help on the family beef and sheep farm when time permits.
Main areas of responsibility: Crops, environment and rural development
William Surman – Parliamentary and Communications Coordinator
William took up his post in Brussels in February 2011 after more than three years working as a senior reporter for the Farmers Guardian newspaper. Brussels is familiar territory, however, after he spent two years working for Neil Parish MEP in 2004 and 2005.
Main areas of responsibility: First point of contact for MEPs and press
Michelle Hickey – Office Manager
Having lived in Brussels for 20 years, Michelle has the expertise to coordinate all Brussels meetings and visits of UFU delegations. Before working for the UFU in Brussels Michelle worked in CEN for the European Committee for Standardisation, she also has a background in the creative arts.
Main areas of responsibility: Group visits and office co-ordinator
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