EU

July 2020

EU's Michel proposes 5 billion euros Brexit emergency fund

European Council President Charles Michel said on Friday that EU talks with Britain on their new relationship were "not easy" and countries, regions and industries will face disruptions from 2021 whether there is a new pact or not.

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June 2020

Premium

Alan Matthews: There will be no turning back on this EU 'green deal' for farming

The European Green Deal is the flagship proposal of the current European Commission. It is a growth strategy that aims to make Europe climate-neutral by 2050 and to decouple economic growth from continued use of natural resources.

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France wants autumn conference on European food sovereignty

France wants to organise a conference with other European countries this autumn on how to reinforce “food sovereignty” following the novel coronavirus outbreak, its agriculture minister said on Thursday.

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May 2020

Farmers face nearly 10pc cut in direct payments under proposed new CAP budget

European farmers are facing a cut in direct supports under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) budget, as the European Commission today announced details of its Multiannal Financial Framework (MFF) Buget proposals and a recovery plan.

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EU plans to halve pesticide use, expand organic farming

The European Commission said on Wednesday it planned to increase organic farming and cut agricultural chemical use to protect the environment, proposals welcomed by green groups but which farmers said would make them less flexible.

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Gallery

Hogan says it will take until at least 2024 to rebuild EU economy

EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan has said it will take at least the next four years for European economies and trade, including Ireland’s, to recover in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis. 

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April 2020

Taoiseach tells Europe of urgent need to support farmers

The Taoiseach has highlighted the need for urgent financial supports for farmers.

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EU efforts to support agriculture fall short of the mark

In an attempt to ease the turmoil on European agricultural commodity markets, the European Commission yesterday announced a support package for thousands of tonnes on food to be stored.

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EU to provide grant aid to store excess food supplies

The European Commission has proposed to introduce a private storage aid (PSA) in the dairy and meat sectors.

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EU sees 'Green Deal' delays but keeps climate target plan: draft document

The European Commission will delay some climate policies under its signature “Green Deal” proposal due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the timeline to unveil a new 2030 emissions target is unchanged, according to a draft document seen by Reuters.

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Latest EU support measures for farmers likey to fall short of the mark

European Commission has today adopted two measures to help the agri-food sector.

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Pressure mounts on EU to take action as Germany calls for support for dairy farmers

The European Union is facing futher pressure to take action to support farmers as prices collapse for a host of key agricultural commodities.

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Export ban: Food supply fears grow as Romania stops sale of grain outside EU

The European Commission expressed disapproval at Romania's decision to ban agriculture exports and said it's assessing how the move could impact trade within the single market.

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Import curbs premature, green reforms may be delayed - EU farm chief

The European Union’s chief agriculture official said on Tuesday it was premature to restrict imports of products such as beef to support European farmers as they battle with the fallout of the new coronavirus pandemic.

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March 2020

Farmers urge EU to keep open market to ensure food supplies

The European Union needs to keep its single market open despite the coronavirus epidemic if it wants to guarantee food supplies for its consumers, Europe’s leading farm association has said.

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Fishermen vow to keep fresh stock in supermarkets

Fishermen have vowed to row in behind the effort to keep fresh produce on the shelves during the coronavirus crisis by diverting to Ireland catches normally destined for mainland Europe.

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EU's draft new deal envisages close ties with Brexit Britain

The European Union's new deal with Brexit Britain envisages a tight trade and security relationship, according to a draft seen by Reuters on Friday, despite London saying it is seeking looser ties.

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US senator's trade advice to EU: Keep calm and put agriculture on the table

The Trump administration would face resistance from the U.S. Congress if it tried to push through a mini trade deal with the European Union that did not include agriculture, U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley said this week.

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February 2020

No deal in sight as "Frugal Four" stamp down on EU budget

Denmark, Austria, Sweden and the Netherlands dug in their heels over the next European Union budget, insisting it cannot top 1% of economic output, to leave the EU no closer to a deal on Friday after all-night talks.

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Summit standoff as EU leaders grapple with Brexit-sized hole in budget

EU leaders made no headway on Thursday in fractious talks on a joint 2021-27 budget that was left with a 75 billion euro ($81 billion) hole after Britain's departure at a time when they face costly new challenges from climate change to migration.

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Farmers to demand Taoiseach use veto in face of CAP cuts

Farmers will demand the Taoiseach uses Ireland's veto if harsh cuts to the Common Agricultural Policy are pushed through at a critical EU summit this week.

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EU leaders to clash over money as Brexit blows hole in budget

European Union leaders will clash this week over the EU's 2021-2027 budget as Britain's exit leaves a 75 billion euro hole in the bloc's finances just as it faces costly challenges such as becoming carbon neutral by 2050.

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French farmers sweat over subsidies in post-Brexit EU budget talks

French dairy and crop farmer Jean-Claude Pette relies on European Union subsidies to keep his 200-hectare farm afloat. But he worries support could be cut as governments seek ways to plug a budget hole left by Britain’s departure from the bloc.

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Mad cow fright keeps EU cautious on food rules

The specter of the 1990s BSE crisis means the European Union is likely to reject U.S. demands it ease strict food safety rules, even with President Donald Trump threatening car tariffs if EU countries do not start importing more U.S. farm products.

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EU goes into meeting frenzy ahead of summit on next 7-year budget

European Union leaders and institutions went into a frenzy of meetings this week to start the toughest job the bloc faces this year: agreeing on a seven-year budget that for many is the most tangible sign of what a united Europe will look like after Brexit.

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Leaked EU docs detail radical green proposals on farming agenda

The EU's agriculture policy is set for radical change under its new Green Deal.

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January 2020

Britain to introduce bill to end automatic EU fishing rights in UK waters

The British government said it will introduce a bill into parliament on Wednesday for legislation to end automatic rights for European Union vessels to fish in UK waters.

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December 2019

Full Irish - pudding gets special protected EU status

Christmas came early for two butchers in Co Kerry whose Sneem black pudding has received a special EU designation.

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Farming under the spotlight in EU's new Green Deal

The European Union's new executive launched a Green Deal policy package to tackle climate change on Wednesday, trumpeting it as the bloc's "man on the moon moment" - but fossil fuel-reliant eastern European states looked set to stall the initiative.

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Post 2020 CAP reform unlikely to be ready after 12 month extension - Creed

Post 2020 CAP reform is unlikely to be ready even after the 12 month extension period, Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has said.