Stephen Cadogan: Rural EU is big enough to need five support pillars

And now, the real work begins, said European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan, after he hosted last week’s two-day conference in the Rochestown Hotel Cork.

Over 350 agricultural, environmental and rural stakeholders from across the EU engaged in lively discussions which brought about a Declaration on European Rural Development for the 21st Century.

This is a blueprint for EU policy priorities in the coming years.