The European Commissioner for Agriculture is visiting Ireland today for the first time since the Mercosur trade agreement was signed.
The Irish government voted against the deal, but it was passed by a majority of EU member states.
European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, Christophe Hansen, backed the agreement which he believes is good for farmers.
“This agreement will open up significant export opportunities for EU farmers and food producers, particularly in the wine, spirits, olive oil and dairy sectors”, he said when the deal was agreed.
“Our main iconic products, registered as Geographical Indications, will be protected in a market of 270 million consumers.”
He also insisted that there are enough measures written into the deal to prevent south American beef flooding the European market putting Irish farmers out of business.
“We now have an unprecedented safeguard that will allow us to act quickly in the unlikely event of market disruption”, he promised.
“We will closely monitor the implementation of the agreement and its impact on our markets.”
But the Irish Farmers Association continues to voice its concerns about the deal.
“IFA will continue to work with our colleagues across Europe to have this deal set aside”, the association’s president, Francie Gorman, said last month.
On a visit to Dublin today, Christophe Hansen – alongside EU Budgets Commissioner, Piotr Serafin – is also expected to discuss the EU’s next long term €2 trillion budget known as the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).
The European Commission has proposed to lump farm subsidies into the same pot as funds for other sectors for the first time.
The EU has promised to ring fence funding for agriculture, but the Irish government is thought to favour the Common Agricultural Policy remaining its own dedicated funding stream.
The two commissioners will meet with the Tánaiste, Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon and Minister of State for European Affairs Thomas Byrne this morning to discuss ongoing negotiations for the next budget.
The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is “a key part of the MFF for Ireland”, the government said ahead of the visit.
“The Irish delegation will argue that it is critical that there is a strong and ring-fenced CAP, which takes account the visibilities and specificities of this Policy.”
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Tánaiste Simon Harris said:
“At this turbulent geopolitical time, we must control what is within our control. A European budget that focuses on investing in supporting jobs, agri food, farmers and skills is essential.
“It is vital that the funding structures we agree on for the coming years prioritise reducing bureaucracy and red tape.”
Minister Martin Heydon said:
“In a time of increasing uncertainty globally more than ever we need to ensure the future of food security. A cut to CAP funding will have real consequences for farmers at a time when they are already facing rising input costs, increasing market volatility, and growing expectations in areas such as climate and environmental delivery.
“Farmers cannot be asked to do more with significantly less. A predictable and adequately funded CAP is essential if the policy is to deliver stability, sustainability and resilience across the European agricultural sector.”