Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue
This afternoon.
Further to confirmation last week by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue that Ireland had received the European Commission’s ‘Observations letter’ querying aspects of Ireland’s draft Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plan.
MEP Luke Ming Flanagan said:
“Ireland submitted its draft CAP Strategic Plan to Brussels on Dec 2021. As part of the ratification process the Commission makes observations on this, requesting the Member State to amend/improve aspects of the plan to meet the criteria set out in the EU regulation.
“Ireland is now in receipt of the letter from the Commission, in which they will have outlined their response to Ireland’s submission and where we need to improve or tweak the plan to meet the nine overarching objectives that form the foundations of the new CAP reform.
“Sweden, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands have published their communication with the Commission. In the interests of transparency, MEP Flanagan is calling on Minister McConalogue to do the same as a matter of urgency.
“The CAP is a vital income support to all farmers, the new reform will have far reaching implication on farm incomes. We cannot have decisions made behind closed doors, we need informed decision-making.”
Anyone?