The latest edition of the ‘Tillage Edge’ podcast features an in-depth interview with Ireland South MEP, Sean Kelly, on the evolution of European Union (EU) policy and its impact on the tillage sector.
He explained that major policy decisions taken in Brussels must be initiated by the European Commission.
Kelly said: “The European Parliament cannot initiate legislation. Proposals put forward by the Commission, invariably, follow the completion of surveys, reflecting views across a wide range of subject areas.
“Once the Commission puts forward a proposal that relates to new legislation, a specific committee within the parliament is tasked with the job of assessing the potential impact of the measures involved.”
According to Kelly, each of the parliamentary groups will appoint a rapporteur. This is a person who will report to the entire parliamentary body as a whole on the progress made in drafting proposed legislation.
Measures set out in proposed legislation must be voted through by the EU Parliament. The same approach is taken, where the Council of Member States is concerned.
The final stage in the process is called a ‘trialogue’ which involves three relevant groupings: the Parliament, the Commission and the individual EU member states.
“This is a lengthy procedure, one involving significant debate at all stages.
“However, the process is very fair in nature. It can be very complicated, particularly for those people who are not close to it,” the MEP added.
NGOs
Kelly also confirmed that any group or individual can make submissions to any or all the EU’s decision making bodies as proposed legislation makes its way through the EU’s assessment-related processes.
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) can have a full-time role in this context.
He continued: “NGOs will be in regular contact with MEPs, pointing out where they see deficiencies in a particular proposal.
“However, larger NGOs can sometimes have too much influence. This is an issue that the European Parliament is looking into at the present time.
“There must be a level playing field so that all stakeholders can have an equal input and that they have the same reporting requirements.”
Irish tillage
The MEP referenced the hard work ethic of farmers and the quality of the products they bring to market.
Specifically, he recognised that tillage farmers in Ireland feel under threat at the present time, adding:
“Playing into this perspective is the fact that Ireland is a very small country in relative terms. The poor weather has also been a key factor in creating major challenges for the tillage sector over the past 12 months.
“With dairy and livestock production being so big in Ireland, those farmers growing crops can feel that they are not being taken seriously at times.”
However, Kelly believes this scenario is changing, with tillage being increasingly recognised for the key role it plays at the very heart of Irish agriculture.
He said: “The quality of the crops grown by Irish farmers must be fully recognised on their home market.
“I was deeply concerned regarding the proposal to ban the use of glyphosate in the EU. Thankfully, this has been taken off the table.
“Measures that recognise the practical issues that confront tillage farmers are now coming to the fore. I am confident this approach will be further endorsed, courtesy of the next mandate given to the European Parliament.”
While tillage production is much larger in countries such as France and Germany, Kelly fully recognises the common challenges now confronting all farmers who depend on the growing of crops for their livelihoods.
“There are also major concerns regarding the import of grain from Ukraine. However, we must always be totally supportive of the needs identified for the tillage sector in Ireland,” he added.
Farmer protests
The MEP is fully aware of the impact that has been registered, courtesy of the farmer protests held across Europe over recent weeks.
However, he feels strongly that farm stakeholder groups should have made more effective representations in Brussels prior to any of this happening in the first place.
“This is specifically relevant at the initial stages of a legislative process. NGOs will be active from the start, looking to influence the decision-making process,” Kelly commented.
“These organisations are never seen out on the streets protesting. There is tremendous respect for farmers across Europe, but farming organisations must be more proactive when it comes to getting their messages communicated.
“I think the protests themselves were effective in the sense that the sustainable use of pesticides directive was withdrawn shortly afterwards – this is partly due to upcoming elections as well,” he said.
Significantly, Kelly believes that tillage farming has been taken for granted over recent years by the decision makers in Brussels. This changed, however, when food security became an issue post the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
Kelly said: “These concerns will be with us for the next decade and more. The issue of food security alone will set the backdrop for proper attention to be given by Brussels to the needs of the tillage sector.
“Pending national elections have also played a role in getting the European Commission to step back from the sustainable pesticides directive.
“There has been a fresh commitment given by the European Commission to address the needs of agriculture.
“It is imperative that such undertakings are fully adopted into the future. There is also a commitment on the table right now to reduce the amount of red tape confronting farmers by 25%.”