ICMSA chief hits out at EU ‘double standards’ over crisis funding

The EU’s generosity towards flood-stricken central European farmers is in stark contrast with its refusal to offer relief during Ireland’s fodder crisis, according to ICMSA president John Comer.

The dairy group said the European Commission was speedy in deploying the solidarity fund in response to recent floods. However, it failed to offer any relief for the estimated €1bn costs to Irish agri-food caused by last year’s weather and consequent fodder crisis.

Mr Comer said: “Farmers and the wider Irish general public would be quite curious about a situation that had the EU Farm Council rushing to assure Austria, the Czech Republic, and Germany that the commission will ‘examine quickly’ any demands made of both the EU Solidarity Fund and EAFRD rural development fund.