The woman nominated to be the EU’s next Environment Commissioner would be willing to consider granting Ireland more time to meet environmental targets, that’s according to an Irish MEP.
Ciaran Mullooly had a private meeting with Jessika Roswall this morning in which, he says, she indicated a willingness to “look again at the time frame for a final decision on the retention of the nitrates derogation by Ireland”.
A derogation means a freeze on fulfilling the full requirements of an EU law, in this case the Nitrates Directive. The Nitrates Directive is designed to improve and protect water quality in Europe by reducing and preventing nitrates leaching from farms into nearby watercourses.
Around 80 percent of the nitrogen pollution found in water comes from agriculture, according to the European Environment Agency.
The Midlands North West MEP told her that he would like Ireland to get an extra ten years derogation.
“The most important thing is dialogue and I see a good dialogue with Ireland in this area”, the Commissioner designate said, according to Mullooly’s office.
Ireland currently has a derogation for the period 2022-2025.
“The derogation decision allows the Irish authorities to authorise farmers, based on certain conditions, to apply manure nitrogen above the 170 kg limit for manure nitrogen per hectare per year of the Nitrates Directive”, a senior EU official confirmed.
“The current derogation expires on 31 December 2025 and the Commission has not received a derogation request for the period after 2025, which needs to be accompanied by relevant data.”
If Ireland were to request another derogation, it will also need to take into account the objective of another law, the Water Framework Directive, to attain good water quality status by 2027.
“The Commission therefore needs to see how the water quality evolves in Ireland, which also depends on how the current derogation is applied.”
Ireland and the Netherlands are the only member states who have been given special dispensation.
Ciaran Mullooly believes a further derogation is essential for Irish farmers.
“This derogation is crucial for Ireland’s unique grass-based farming system, which capitalises on the country’s ability to grow lush, green grass for most of the year. It allows for higher stocking rates, which is vital for the productivity of Ireland’s grass-fed dairy and beef sectors.”
He believes that it is possible to achieve crucial environmental targets without unnecessarily harming Irish agriculture or reducing its competitiveness.
The Irish government is currently readying to lobby the EU for a renewal of the derogation.
Agriculture Minister, Charlie McConalogue, has warned that it will be up to the European Commission to have the final say.
Jessika Roswall must convince MEPs that she has what it takes to be the next Environment Commissioner. She will face members in a three-hour hearing on her suitability on 5 November.
If confirmed in the post, Ciaran Mullooly says that she has promised to visit Ireland as soon as possible.