On Wednesday, the Irish Government officially began its six-month term holding the presidency of the Council of the EU.

Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon takes the reins at the EU’s agriculture and fisheries council.

He has said that Ireland’s work at the council will be guided by a clear objective: to support farming and fishing families, protect incomes, strengthen competitiveness, sustain rural and coastal communities, and strike the right balance between the economic, social and environmental pillars of sustainability.

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“Our two central priorities will be to progress discussions on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy post-2027, and to successfully conclude the annual fishing opportunities negotiations,” he said.

Europe needs farming to remain an attractive and viable career for young people and new entrants

When it comes to the future of farming, the Department of Agriculture said that generational renewal is essential to the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of European agriculture.

“Europe needs farming to remain an attractive and viable career for young people and new entrants.

“This requires fair incomes, access to supports, investment, innovation, knowledge transfer, advisory services and confidence in the future direction of EU policy,” it said.

New entrants and succession

The Department stated that the Irish presidency will consider how policy frameworks and measures can encourage new entrants and facilitate succession in farming across the union.

“During what is the International Year of the Woman Farmer, there will also be a focus on the role of women in agriculture, and on how the visibility and participation of women in rural and coastal communities can be enhanced, in recognition of their vital contribution to the economic and social fabric of Europe,” it said.

European society depends on the continuous provision of food from agricultural and food systems that operate with the utmost reliability, and with high levels of food safety, quality and variety, the Department added.

“This is achieved in no small part through the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP), our union’s oldest common policy,” it said.