Phil Hogan, Commissioner-designate for Agriculture and Rural Development, was recently challenged by questions from MEPs concerning his plans to support the development of EU farming.
Early in September, European Commission President-elect Jean-Claude Juncker unveiled his new Commission and named former Irish Environment Minister Phil Hogan as the next EU Agriculture Commissioner.
Mr Hogan was one of 28 new EU commissioners announced. The agriculture commissionership accounts for nearly 40% of the total EU budget.
Following the hearing, S&D spokesperson on farm policies, Paolo De Castro MEP said: "Commissioner-designate Hogan has demonstrated his long track record, expertise and ambitions regarding farm policies.
"Our Group welcome his commitment to ensuring that the EU common agriculture policy (CAP) will serve to create more jobs and boost the sustainability and competitiveness of the sector.
"We were also satisfied with his undertaking to strengthen and improve the Commission's relations with the European Parliament."
Regarding the personal conduct of the candidate, however, S&D Vice-President Isabelle Thomas made clear: "There are suspicions that Phil Hogan's behaviour was discriminatory in the past, and indeed he admitted making sexist remarks to a female political colleague to whom he was later obliged to apologise. However, apologies do not excuse misconduct. Non-discrimination is one of the key values of the EU."
Current Irish Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney welcomed the appointment of Hogan, he said: "Agriculture has always been a priority for Ireland and this is an appointment that Government has made a priority. It is a very significant announcement for Ireland and is recognition of the role the Irish Presidency played in securing a Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) agreement last year."
Frustration over CAP payments and the Russian trade ban will be the most pressing issues Hogan will have to confront. NFU President Meurig Raymond said the NFU would continue to work with MEPs and the new Commissioner to ensure they are fully aware of the priorities of UK farmers over the next five years.
He said: "In terms of priorities, the last reform of the Common Agriculture Policy, which I firmly believe has been a step in the wrong direction, must be top of the new Commissioner’s agenda. What’s needed now is time to critically evaluate its outcomes, in particular to look at an early review of the current greening measures. I am therefore delighted to hear that President Juncker has asked Mr Hogan to review “the potential for further simplification in the areas of direct payments and in particular as regards greening.”
“Currently, there is also an unprecedented number of trade deals, notably the ongoing EU-US trade discussions and we need to ensure any trade deal ensures the efforts of British farmers are not undermined by imports produced to lower standards.”
“One of the most pressing questions remains the EU’s approach to science. I remain convinced that sound science should be used as the cornerstone of European policy-making and I will be making this point with Mr Hogan at the earliest opportunity.”
Lack of detail on CAP implementation and the Russian trade ban will be top of the agenda for the heads of farming unions as they travel to Brussels to meet MEPs and other representatives on a major lobbying offensive.
They are expected to have discussions with MEPs, senior Commission and UK government officials and other European farming heads.
"The new CAP is due to enter into force on 1 January, but the details are not yet there," Nigel Miller, President of NFU Scotland said.
For many farmers time has already run out. Cropping plans were made a long time ago and crops are in the ground.
“Officials don’t seem to grasp just how much uncertainty and confusion remains on the ground amongst farmers. The UK administrations are struggling to make guidance available because the EU administrators haven’t told them what needs to be done in order to fully comply and pass future EU audits.
“The person who will ultimately lose out from this impasse is the farmer. That’s not fair. I want tolerances and a light touch for compliance in the early years whilst the new rules bed in.”
Gail Soutar, Director of the UK farming unions’ Brussels office said: “2014 is a year of political change in Brussels. We have new MEPs in office now and we will have a new Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development in post from the 1 November. Our Presidents will be putting the concerns of their members directly to those who can deliver change.
“We will be building alliances with European farm organisations, highlighting key political concerns with MEPs, impressing the need for realism on senior Commission officials as they set about rule making, meeting UK and regional Government officials to share insights and international partners to identify trading opportunities.”
Meurig Raymond, President of NFU England and Wales will host a dinner for UK and European MEPs, and commented: “MEPs will be challenging Commissioner-designate Phil Hogan on the 2 October. We have an excellent opportunity to work with MEPs to influence how the Parliament plans to shape the new Commissioner’s political priorities for the next five years.
“The EU’s approach on plant protection products is already manifesting itself on the ground. Farmers are struggling to establish crops such as oilseed rape, attacked by pests previously controlled by protection products now banned by the EU.
“Whilst the rest of the world embraces science based solutions, the EU grapples with a highly charged debate on the application of modern technology in farming. I want to see the EU’s decisions based on science and not emotion.
Ian Marshall, President of Ulster Farmers Union said: “The Russian trade ban has placed further pressure on what is an already weak European and global dairy market. The signs of that impact on the European market are now showing through as UK prices start to track EU prices.
“The plans for market management measures in the shape of private storage aid and intervention is a positive reaction by the Commission, but we need to make sure this product is not dumped on an already depressed market in the months ahead. We want the Commission to monitor the EU milk market closely, focus much greater efforts on securing new export markets and overcoming some of the current barriers to export.”
Stephen James, NFU Cymru will be meeting all the Welsh MEPs and senior commission officials to discuss the main issues affecting Welsh Agriculture said: “Europe and the decisions it makes have a huge impact on the day to day lives of Welsh Farmers. NFU Cymru is in a fantastic position to have a full time office and staff based in Brussels representing the interests of Welsh Farmers.
“I will be taking this opportunity to discuss a range of issues including CAP, greening, cross compliance, EID tolerance, TSE’s and the future shape of RDP all of which have are hugely significant to our membership.
