Press release
McConalogue calls for Europe wide solutions to address difficulties on Agriculture Markets
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, emphasised the need for European wide solutions to support farmers in this ongoing period of uncertainty, ahead of today’s EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels (25 July 2023).
Minister McConalogue said:
“We continue to face particular uncertainty in relation to the market situation for crops, with the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, including Russia’s recent withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, further compounded by recent weather events and continuing high input costs. It is vital to ensure that European-wide solutions, which preserve and maintain the integrity of the Single Market and which are based on close consultation, are found to address any difficulties on agricultural markets, and to address global food security concerns.”
Commenting on the proposed Sustainable Use of Plant Protection Products Regulation, which will be discussed at the Council meeting, the Minister said:
“Ireland supports the overall objectives of the Farm to Fork Strategy, and we are committed to working in partnership with Member States to deliver them. However, if EU targets on the sustainable use of plant protection products are to be met, it is essential that viable alternatives, as mentioned in the Commission study, are available within the shortest timeframe possible. It is critical that farmers have alternative options available for plant protection before legally binding national targets are implemented.”
This Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting will be the first held under the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, and the Presidency will outline it’s work programme for the next six months. Other items on the agenda include Ministerial discussions of the proposals for regulations on new genomic techniques (NGTs), and on Plant and Forest Reproductive Material as well as a discussion on the main outcomes of the Fifth AU- EU Agriculture Ministerial Conference held in Rome at the end of June.