The balance must be right between commonality and flexibility in the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Christophe Hansen said at a meeting of the AGRIFISH council on Tuesday.

“I have noted the support for keeping a strong and common agriculture policy. Even though we know flexibility and commonness are quite opposites, I think we need to get the balance right to have a CAP that is fit for purpose and tailor-made as well for the specificities of member states,” the commissioner stated.

He noted that not everything can be voluntary in CAP and there must be a certain amount of common rules in place.

Hansen also highlighted the need to deliver targeted supports for young farmers to bring food security to the next generation.

The commissioner concluded by saying that Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon and himself are very open to discussing the ways forward in negotiations for the next CAP.

Presidency

Ireland is set to take over the presidency of the European Council in just four days.

It marks the eighth time Ireland has taken on the role since joining the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1973.

Speaking at the meeting, Minister Heydon said that Ireland will aim to “deliver an energetic presidency”.

“We won’t be the first ministers to promise our farmers simplification, but I believe working together we can get the balance right to protect the commonality of the CAP, but also to deliver the subsidiarity and flexibility that we require for our own areas,” he outlined.

Minister Heydon described that there was a strong consensus in the room that a properly funded CAP is needed.

He also asked fellow agriculture ministers from other EU member states to go home and tell their prime ministers and ministers for finance to help advocate for as much support as possible for the next CAP.