Letter from Brussels - August 2025

One of the most fulfilling parts of this job is hosting visiting groups of members from home. And in July, ICOS president, Edward Carr, led a high-level delegation of dairy co-operative chairpersons for a series of engagements with MEPs and other EU Commission officials on pertinent issues, not least the retention of the nitrates derogation. The group also met with EU Commissioner, Michael McGrath, in his office in the Berlaymont building.
The delegation expressed their very significant concerns surrounding the proportionality and complexity of introducing new criteria on habitats as part of the derogation application. There is always the fear that Brussels is not aware of Ireland’s unique grass-based system. But they went home somewhat encouraged by the strong recognition there was of that system and the real progress made on water quality by farm families and co-operatives.
Officials from DG Envi and the cabinet of EU Commissioner for environment and water resilience, Jessika Roswall, strongly acknowledged that they did not want to drive people away from our grass- and land-based model of production. Still, there is a job of work ahead in the coming months to convince the powers that be, that Irish farmers and co-operatives are working day and night to improve water quality and there are some recent signs of that work paying off. Farm groups and the Government will continue to work together and liaise with Brussels right up to the minute a decision is made regarding the derogation extension application.
The next multiannual financial framework (EU Budget for 2027 onwards) was announced during the visit, which was timely as the delegation also joined with farmers from across Europe in a protest to highlight deep concern at proposals to cut the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) budget. The EU finances are under severe pressure, not least with the €800bn Covid-19 loan due for repayment. That, along with a move towards arming up to bolster security, is going to eat into the CAP budget with talk of cuts of around 25 per cent.
Visitors coming to Brussels always leave with a new and clear understanding of how the EU institutions work, from the Parliament to the Commission to the Council. The opportunity to meet key personalities face to face is important in conveying the message about the value of Irish agriculture and such interactions are always welcome here. While some detractors bemoan ‘the farming lobby’, Ireland’s farmers have just as much right to have a voice here as any other profession if not more so considering that almost every rule and regulation impacting their day-to-day work is cooked up, debated, and signed here. I look forward to the next visit.