IFA advises new agri commissioner

THE new EU agriculture commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel was described by IFA president John Dillon yesterday as an unexpected choice for the post, but he said she has experience from her current job as Minister for Agriculture in Denmark.

Mr Dillon said she must continue the strategy of outgoing commissioner Franz Fischler in defending Europe’s family farm structure and protecting the rural economy.

He said the immediate challenge she faces is to defend the Common Agricultural Policy in the upcoming detailed negotiations in the World Trade Organisation.