The news that simplification was a top priority for Commissioner Phil Hogan next year brought with it a deep sense of déjà vu.

I recently cleared out my office and one of the folders I threw out was the last big conference on simplification in 2007 in Brussels.

There was all the talk back then of reducing red tape and bureaucracy. Frankly, it was just that – talk. What we have seen since is further complications – not just for farmers.

The EU Farm Commissioner plans to conduct a comprehensive screening exercise for the entire agricultural policy as “simpler rules will contribute to greater competitiveness and will enhance the job creating potential of agriculture, rural areas and trade”.

He wants to ease the administrative burden on farmers and cut red tape at member state level. We are all for that.

One thing he isn’t going to do is seek a fundamental change. He said the efforts “should concentrate on those elements that can be changed within the current policy framework as farmers need predictability”.

Reviewed

Even the ecological focus areas (EFAs), a very complicated, new system, have to wait a year to be reviewed. The other areas he will focus on are any current proposals and more than 200 Commission regulations implementing the CMO which are up for revision.

He wants ministers, MEPs, paying agencies and farmers to “provide input to the simplification agenda”.

So let’s do it this time around. I want to hear from you on what you think should be simplified, not just by the Commissioner, but also by our own Government as well. How can we make farmers’ lives easier? Over the next month, I want to gather a list of 10 things that farmers want simplified.

We will send them to the Commissioner and also to Minister Coveney to see if they are really going to prioritise simplification in 2015.

To start, the first thing I want is for farmers who have been inspected not to have their payments delayed. This has always been unfair, especially as any penalty could be clawed back at a later date.

Can you think of more?

Send what you want to be simplified to Peter Young, Irish Farmers Journal, Irish Farm Centre, Bluebell Dublin 12 or email pyoung@farmersjournal.ie