One key European Commission proposal for the future of farm payments is to reserve them for active farmers – or "genuine farmers" – as they are to be known soon according to a draft plan leaked to the Irish Farmers Journal.
Commissioner Hogan told the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture this Thursday that this does not mean excluding part-time farmers from support schemes, as each country will have more freedom in setting the rules, and Ireland is likely to protect its numerous farmers with off-farm jobs.
I wish you well on that!
"I have given the responsibility to define an active farmer back to the member states," he said. "I wish you well on that!"
This is because EU countries have been unable to agree on a definition applicable across Europe, he added.
"The part-time farmer should have nothing to worry about," Commissioner Hogan said.
'Straightforward' approval for national plans
Defining genuine farmers is one of many choices to move into the hands of national governments, before approval of each country's plan by the Commission. Commissioner Hogan acknowledged that a similar process to establish Rural Development Plans under the current CAP had been "long and frustrating" and said he was "committed to making the new approval system more straightforward".
One of the criteria for approval will be that each country must "do something substantial for young farmers" he added.
Budget battle
While 21 EU member states have agreed to increase their contributions to the common budget to maintain CAP payments despite the British shortfall after Brexit, the commissioner said that six had not: "We must work hard to convince them."
He also addressed more immediate market concerns, including the prospect of a Mercosur trade agreement, which he seemed less confident would happen than a few months ago.
"If we do a deal with Mercosur in the morning, it will take 10 to 12 years before it's implemented," he said. "We have a bit of time."
'Reconsider' hard Brexit
On the release of milk powder intervention stocks, he noted that recent sales had been to countries such as Tunisia and Mexico and said: "We'll move it, slowly but surely, on markets that are outside the EU."
Earlier in the day, Commissioner Hogan addressed the Seanad on Brexit and gave a scathing assessment of the UK's plans to leave the Customs Union. "The facts say: 'Reconsider'," he concluded.
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Healy urges Hogan to ‘fight like hell’ for the CAP budget
Editorial: farmers send clear message to Hogan
One key European Commission proposal for the future of farm payments is to reserve them for active farmers – or "genuine farmers" – as they are to be known soon according to a draft plan leaked to the Irish Farmers Journal.
Commissioner Hogan told the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture this Thursday that this does not mean excluding part-time farmers from support schemes, as each country will have more freedom in setting the rules, and Ireland is likely to protect its numerous farmers with off-farm jobs.
I wish you well on that!
"I have given the responsibility to define an active farmer back to the member states," he said. "I wish you well on that!"
This is because EU countries have been unable to agree on a definition applicable across Europe, he added.
"The part-time farmer should have nothing to worry about," Commissioner Hogan said.
'Straightforward' approval for national plans
Defining genuine farmers is one of many choices to move into the hands of national governments, before approval of each country's plan by the Commission. Commissioner Hogan acknowledged that a similar process to establish Rural Development Plans under the current CAP had been "long and frustrating" and said he was "committed to making the new approval system more straightforward".
One of the criteria for approval will be that each country must "do something substantial for young farmers" he added.
Budget battle
While 21 EU member states have agreed to increase their contributions to the common budget to maintain CAP payments despite the British shortfall after Brexit, the commissioner said that six had not: "We must work hard to convince them."
He also addressed more immediate market concerns, including the prospect of a Mercosur trade agreement, which he seemed less confident would happen than a few months ago.
"If we do a deal with Mercosur in the morning, it will take 10 to 12 years before it's implemented," he said. "We have a bit of time."
'Reconsider' hard Brexit
On the release of milk powder intervention stocks, he noted that recent sales had been to countries such as Tunisia and Mexico and said: "We'll move it, slowly but surely, on markets that are outside the EU."
Earlier in the day, Commissioner Hogan addressed the Seanad on Brexit and gave a scathing assessment of the UK's plans to leave the Customs Union. "The facts say: 'Reconsider'," he concluded.
Read more
Healy urges Hogan to ‘fight like hell’ for the CAP budget
Editorial: farmers send clear message to Hogan
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