Minister Creed’s speech was the most detailed Irish response yet to plans outlined by European Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan for the CAP after 2020 in a communication last month and at a separate event in Brussels on Monday.
Minister Creed supported the Commission’s plans for more flexibility in the implementation of EU farm policy at the national level, especially when it comes to putting a proposed ceiling on the maximum payment each farm can claim. Ireland has set this at €150,000 per year. “My view is that any policy to apply a lower cap should be voluntary. Conditions are not the same across member states,” he said.
National plans
The Commission proposal is that each country would submit a national plan to implement CAP objectives set at European level. Minister Creed said that this “can work for member states and farmers,” but warned of the potential complexity associated with this method.
“Given the experience with the approval of Rural Development Programmes after the reform in 2013, will European Commission and member state administrations have the capacity to develop and approve national strategic plans without delaying payments?” he asked.
CAP must continue to assist farmers in producing more food in a sustainable manner
Minister Creed also called for increased environmental standards to apply in a way that does not hamper the 70% increase in production which he said was required to feed a growing population by 2050. “Put simply, CAP must continue to assist farmers in producing more food in a sustainable manner,” he said.
Minister Creed called for crisis management tools such as intervention and emergency packages used during the recent dairy price crash to stay. Additional risk management measures such as insurance schemes could also play a role, but they should “remain voluntary for member states” and leave space for private sector initiatives such as the fixed milk price scheme developed by Irish co-ops, he added.
Minister Creed also welcomed the emphasis on generation renewal in the Commission’s proposals and “will be arguing for as strong a budget for the CAP as possible”.
Poll result: one in four votes for €20,000 limit on farm payments