Big problems, local solutions

Next week’s EU Council of Ministers meeting has been the focus of increasingly tense debate between Irish farmers across all sectors and income levels.

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney has consistently stated that Ireland is pushing for flexibility in the distribution of direct farm payments. While the EU Commission had started out determined to push through its contentious ‘flattening’ and ‘greening’ proposals, several member states have pleaded for freedom to adapt the measures to suit their own unique local circumstances.

While Ireland is not the strongest of EU member states, its voice has certainly been heard loud and clear. Ireland has managed to retain most of its overall funding envelope (shedding around 3% versus the c.10% originally mooted), and it continues to push its case for a derogation that would allow it a degree of autonomy over how its funds are distributed within Ireland.