Europe’s gain could be a winner for Irish farmers too
The EU is fortunate to have secured the services of a politician who gets things done, nominating him as the Commissioner-elect for Agriculture and Rural Development.
Subject to the European Parliament voting in the proposed new Commission in October, the Kilkenny man is sure to be an influential figure in the Commission over the next five year.
He will give Ireland a strong voice at the top in proposing EU legislation, implementing decisions, upholding treaties, and the day-to-day running of the EU.
He has the capability to leave his mark on Europe, as Ray MacSharry did with the most radical Common Agricultural Policy overhaul in 30 years, and as Peter Sutherland did with aviation deregulation and the emergence of the low cost airlines.
Hogan has the potential to leave a similar legacy, especially if he were to secure a second five-year term.
So it’s not surprising that the farmer organisations have lined up to welcome his nomination.
They will be anxious to stay on his right side, but must bear in mind that Commissioners swear an oath pledging to respect the EU treaties, and to be completely independent in carrying out their duties, during their mandate.
In any case, he will be too busy and will have too much on his plate to give special treatment to any member state.
Already Commission President Jean Claude Juncker has asked Phil Hogan to review potential for further simplification in the areas of direct payments, and the complex greening policies which arrive in 2015.
He is also expected to concentrate on EU food quality policies, and implementation of the CAP reform.
But sanctions against Russia will be the most urgent issue facing the EU’s new agriculture commissioner, because of the Russian retaliation against EU food exports.
He will also need to be strong in the defence of EU agriculture within the Commission, in which supporters of free trade deals have tried in vain for decades to put major deals in place, many of which would have given the EU a major economic boost, but at the probable expense of the EU food industry.
At least he will be well briefed on that area by his Head of Cabinet, Peter Power.
He was Spokesman for Trade under Commissioner Peter Mandelson, when EU farmers feared Mandelson would “sell them off” in the ultimately unsuccessful world trade talks.
This time around, it is transatlantic trade deals which are on the table, which farmers fear could open the EU market to a flood of US and South American food produce, but which some Commissioners will be supporting strongly, because the deals would bring jobs and exports to the EU’s industrial and financial sectors.
Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney has welcomed Phil Hogan’s nomination.
He said the appointment secures a major economic portfolio with controls 40% of the EU Budget, including agriculture and food, in which Ireland has set ambitious targets, prioritising the sector ed as a major economic driver in our national recovery.
The appointment will help deliver those targets, Coveney confidently predicted.
It will also be a relief to him to have a familiar face across the table, when he continues his fight against a substantial financial correction which the EU has proposed, following review of the Land Parcel Identification System database in Ireland, on which single farm payments are based.
There have been fears that the EU could impose a financial correction as high as 181 million.
For that much at least, farmers should be happy to see Phil Hogan appointed Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, next November.
