Phil Hogan reveals EU Commission’s frustrations in dealing with Greece
Greece effectively has no administration in agriculture, said Commissioner Hogan, addressing Seanad Eireann.
“When I am trying to give money and support to rural development programmes in Greece, I cannot get satisfaction from the Greek authorities, or even get replies to letters sent since last Christmas,” he revealed.
In a broad-ranging address on Tuesday, he also said he spoke earlier that day to the Sinn Féin party leader and spokesperson on agriculture, Gerry Adams and Martin Ferris, about an all-island approach on food labelling, and asked them to enlist the support of the North-South Ministerial Council (many believe an all- island approach on food labelling could boost livestock and meat trading).
But Commissioner Hogan’s main mission in Dublin was to promote loans from the European Investment Bank for rural investment.
“This gives the opportunity for young farmers starting off, for food companies that want to expand, for the dairy processing sector that wants to expand post-milk quota, for forestry and green infrastructure and for storage facilities,” he said.
“These can now be funded through the rural development programme and EIB loans.
“If we can offer long-term loans at low interests, it is a positive day for rural Ireland.”
He added, ”Low-interest loans over a longer period are more beneficial than grants. We must remove ourselves from the grant mentality, as it is not the be-all and end-all but rather one option that is available.”
“It is in this context I see financial instruments as a very important tool for boosting EU agriculture.”
