News from the RSPB site

The European Commission has squandered a key chance to save Europe's countryside and wildlife. That's the reaction from the RSPB and its European partners following the European Commission's latest Budget statement which proposes the EU's financial commitments after 2013.

Last week the RSPB was warning of significant cuts to wildlife-friendly farming within yesterday’s budget. The budget figures reveal a cut of around five per cent in funding for wildlife-friendly farming. However, this is against the backdrop of an overall increase in the EU budget by five per cent, so the overall money spent on wildlife-friendly farming has dropped significantly as a proportion of the overall budget.

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