Land grab fears return after EU Auditors opinion

A 2014 land grab is back on the table after the European Court of Auditors found fault with a CAP reform proposal demanded by Ireland.

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney warned last year people may come from outside the agricultural community to buy up large tracts of lower value land in an effort to secure payments into the future — following the EU proposal to make 2014 a reference year for single farm payments.

Following intensive Irish lobbying in Brussels, the European Commission stipulated 2011 as a “tie-back” year. This meant if a farmer has eligibility in the proposed reference year of 2014, he or she can only be eligible for the single farm payment in the future if he or she made some claim for that payment in 2011.