Coveney to push for agreement on EU distribution of direct payments

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney, will be pushing to reach agreement on how direct payments are to be distributed within member states when the Agri/Fish Council reconvenes next week.

Mr Coveney will chair the council’s second meeting under the Irish presidency on Monday and Tuesday. He is calling on participants to ensure that they make significant progress on key CAP reform issues before the end of business on Tuesday.

Mr Coveney intends to use the first day of the council to make what he hopes will be a significant step forward in the CAP reform negotiations. The member states will also consider the issue of the publication of data on CAP beneficiaries.