Red tape 'must be cut' for farmers - senator

European Union agriculture ministers should make day-to-day life easier for farmers by “cutting red tape” according to a senator who is a member of the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Senator Victor Boyhan said it was a welcome development earlier this week that the European Council has endorsed a targeted review of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) which has been proposed by the European Commission.

The review aims to “simplify, reduce the administrative burden, and provide greater flexibility for complying with certain environmental conditionalities” in relation to CAP.

Senator Boyhan said: “Targeted consultations need to identify areas of concern to fully understand the administrative burden and complexity of the CAP rules.

“The EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council has agreed that the process of amending CAP strategic plans should be simplified, but without co-operating with farmers, we risk going in the wrong direction.”

He believes that it is crucial now that EU agriculture ministers listen to what farmers are telling them and that any revision of CAP rules must address the challenges that farmers face on a daily basis.

Farmers

“Red tape must be cut for farmers amidst growing frustration. Administrative practices for agriculture workers need to be simplified and proportionate while simultaneously achieving key and agreed objectives of the EU.”

“Simplification will only be achieved in a spirit of goodwill and close cooperation with farmers, their representatives, and EU member states,” Senator Boyhan added.

EU vision for rural areas

Meanwhile the European Commission has published a new report which outlines the “good progress” which it claims has been made so far under the EU’s long-term rural vision, which was first launched in 2021.

According to Janusz Wojciechowski, Commissioner for Agriculture, the report underlines “the EU’s commitment and progress towards the future of its rural areas”.

“Only by actively listening and engaging with our rural communities can we find solutions that recognise and consider their needs to achieve stronger, connected, resilient and prosperous rural areas.

“Through the CAP Strategic Plans, we underscore the deep connection between rural development and agriculture and offer a new impulse of opportunities for farmers and rural communities for rural revitalisation,” the commissioner added.

The commission’s Long-Term Vision for EU Rural Areas which will run up to 2040 identifies 30 areas of action which will lead to “stronger, connected, resilient and prosperous rural areas and communities”.

According to the European Commission nine out of 30 of these actions have now been completed these include:

Launching a rural revision platform for areas facing demographic and economic challenges;
Starting 60 rural research and innovation projects;
Supporting the implementation of LEADER;
Earmarking a total of €23.5 billion in grants and loans for underserved areas,
Improving rural mobility and tourism planning;
Creating the rural energy community advisory hub;
Supporting projects to help develop the social economy in rural areas;
Increasing the number of data setts for rural areas ;
Launching the rural toolkit to ease access to EU funding.

The report highlights that strong engagement at member state, regional, and local level is “essential for delivering good outcomes”.

Commenting on the publication of the report the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said: “Rural areas are a formative part of the European economy and cultural diversity.

“They are home to hundreds of millions of Europeans who enjoy living and working there.