Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Niall Carson/PA Archive/Press Association Images
Agriculture

Coveney back in Brussels to discuss CAP reforms (again)

There are still some details to be worked out after June’s agreement.

AGRICULTURE MINISTER SIMON Coveney is back in Brussels today for further debates on planned Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reforms.

The meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council will also discuss African swine flu, the EU’s forest strategy and a conference on organic agriculture.

The public debate on the state of play of the CAP reform comes after June’s agreement between the EU institutions (the Council, the Commission and the Parliament) on the proposals for direct payments regulation and other aspects of the package.

However, the Parliament is still holding out on some longer-term issues, including the gradual reduction of grants, flexibility of rural development pillars and levels of co-funding.

It set out its position in a trilogue meeting last week and the Presidency will report to the Council on the developments there.

The ministers will then debate the next steps towards finalisation and adoption of the CAP reform package, hoping to close the gap between the Member States’ and Parliament’s positions.

The Parliament’s agriculture committee meeting will have to vote on the entire CAP reform package on 30 September.

Much of the progress made on the issue occurred during Ireland’s president of the European Council earlier this year, with Coveney claiming a victory for Irish farmers and signalled the most significant reform of the EU’s policy on agriculture in 10 years.

Amongst the most notable differences are the changes to the way the Single Farm Payment is distributed and new projects to promote sustainable farming.

Read: Guess which animal is Minister Simon Coveney’s favourite…

More: I’ve been to too many funerals and scenes of bodies brought ashore

Read: Minister Coveney doesn’t like fur farming but he’s not banning it

Your Voice
Readers Comments
2
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.