A delegation from the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee will visit Ireland in 2025, according to one Irish member of the committee.
Fianna Fáil MEP for Ireland Midlands–North-West Barry Cowen has said that a proposal from both himself and Independent Ireland MEP Ciaran Mullooly (who are both part of the Renew Europe MEP group) has been accepted by the coordinators of both the parliament’s agriculture and regional development committees.
Mullooly has indicated that the visit to Ireland may take place in February.
His Renew Europe colleague Cowen said that the visit of the delegation is “a significant opportunity to showcase Irish agriculture on the European stage”.
He said that it was important to foster “a greater understanding” of the Irish agricultural sector and offer insights into the challenges facing farmers.
“The mission will provide key MEPs from across Europe with a first-hand experience of the Irish agricultural sector and offer critical insights into the challenges facing our farmers,” Cowen commented.
“It will also showcase the innovative solutions being implemented to ensure sustainability and productivity and highlight the need for farmers to be better rewarded for the work they are doing in this regard,” he added.
According to the MEP, decisions have not yet been made around what Irish towns and sites will be visited by the delegation.
However, Cowen said that he suggested a visit to a farm in the Midlands–North-West with a focus on water quality.
He also said that he proposed a conference on succession planning, and discussions on the nitrates derogation to outline an argument for Ireland to retain it after 2025.
The MEP said that the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) will be front and centre during the delegation’s visit.
“The trip needs to represent an open dialogue between our farmers and the MEPs to identify their priorities for CAP reform and ensure alignment with on-the-ground realities, including the creation of a separate and distinct funding stream to reward eco and environmental initiatives while allowing the CAP to return to its core mission,” Cowen said.
On the derogation, Cowen said that the visit from the delegation will “provide an opportunity to demonstrate the collaborative efforts of farmers, government and other stakeholder to secure its extension”.