Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue has welcomed EU Commission proposals to simplify the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) for farmers.
The minister is in Brussels today (Tuesday, March 26) where he is attending the monthly meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council (AGRIFISH).
McConalogue expects the council to sign off on a package of measures proposed by the commission aiming to ease the administrative burden and “make life simpler” for farmers.
The proposals will then go before the EU Parliament for consideration before “the additional flexibilities” can be applied for farmers.
Among the proposed changes is the exemption of small farms of under 10ha from controls and penalties related to compliance with conditionality requirements under the CAP.
It would also allow member states to grant temporary and targeted derogations from certain conditionality requirements in the event of unforeseen climate conditions that prevent farmers from complying with them.
CAP
Speaking ahead of today’s meeting, Minister McConalogue said that farmers need “stability and space to plan their futures”.
“It’s important that we actually work to respond and support farmers, particularly in relation to the implementation of regulations,” he said.
McConalogue also pointed to the longer term need to increase the budget for the next Common Agricultural Policy, which he said had remained “largely static over the last two CAP programmes”.
“It has always been a really important part of farm incomes across Europe and it’s also really important as well in relation to maintaining European food security.
“I think going forward and as we look to frame the next Common Agricultural Policy it will be important that that message also is heard across the European institutions and is taken on board by all member states that we work to improve the CAP budget into the future,” he said.
The minister welcomed the EU Commission proposal to increase the requirement for gathering market data and to assess the implementation of the Unfair Trading Practices Directive to date.
“I am pleased to see the commission address the position of farmers in the value chain.
“In Ireland I have established a fully independent Agri-food regulator, An Rialálaí Agraibhia, to bring a new and enhanced focus to the regulation of unfair trading practices.
“I have also ensured that the regulator has an important function in analysis and reporting on price and market data.
“I am confident that these measures can enhance the position of farmers and improve transparency in the supply chain,” he said.
Farmers
Meanwhile, European farmers have returned to Brussels for the third time in less than two months calling for “an adequate response” to their demands for fair incomes and prices.
European Coordination Via Campesina (ECVC) and FUGEA are among the farm organisations taking part in the demonstration which coincides with the AGRIFISH council meeting.
Hundreds of tractors are again lining the streets of Brussels as part of the day-long demonstration which is expected to disrupt traffic and public transport in the city.
ECVC said that the EU Commission proposals to change parts of the CAP “are insufficient to tackle the root causes that have driven farmer protests across Europe for months”.
“The priority is to ensure as many farmers as possible stay in and take up the profession, while providing support for more sustainable models.
“For this, we need remunerative prices and support that correspond to our efforts.
“European policies, and the CAP in particular, must be capable of regulating markets and supporting the transition,” it said.