MEP brings Mayo rural backbone message into EU budget engagement
MEP Ciaran Mullooly has said the voice of Mayo’s farming and rural economy must form part of the discussion on the future of the EU budget, following a two-day engagement in Dublin with European Commission Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto, Commission officials and representatives from the Commission office in Dublin.
The engagement, held in the European Parliament offices in Dublin, brought together more than 20 key stakeholders from Irish farming, regional development, local authorities and civil society to discuss the next EU Multi-annual Financial Framework and its implications for rural communities.
MEP Mullooly said he was delighted that John Dolan, an agricultural contractor from Co. Mayo, was present in Dublin, helping ensure that the practical experience of those working across the rural economy formed part of the wider discussion.
Agricultural contractors, he said, are a vital part of the rural backbone, linking farm families, local businesses, fuel costs, machinery, employment and wider rural viability.
“I warmly welcome the presence and of John Dolan during this event,” said MEP Mullooly. “His presence helps remind and ensure that the practical experience of the agricultural contracting sector is also part of the mix.
“In rural Ireland, one part of the system always fits closely with another. Farm families, contractors, local businesses, co-ops, marts, hauliers and rural communities are all connected. When pressure builds in the rural heart of Ireland, it does not stop at the parish boundary. It moves upstream into our towns, cities, food supply chains and wider economy. There is no escaping that fact.”
The discussions focused on the future of CAP, Cohesion Policy, LEADER, the EU Just Transition Fund and related issues, with a shared emphasis on simplification, flexibility and keeping EU funding rooted in the realities of rural communities.
MEP Mullooly said that issues such as farm viability, rural development, fuel costs and cohesion funding cannot be looked at in isolation.
“Fuel costs are not going away as an issue for rural Ireland,” he said. “For agricultural contractors and farmers, fuel is not optional. It is part of keeping work moving, keeping farms operating and keeping services available in rural communities.
“That is why the message into the next EU budget must be clear. Europe must support active farmers, protect viable rural areas, back generational renewal, and ensure that cohesion and rural funding deliver practical support where it is needed.”
The wider engagement also included contributions from farming organisations, including the IFA, ICMSA, INHFA and ICSA, alongside LEADER companies, chief executives of local authorities, rural development voices and recipients of EU Just Transition Fund grant aid.
A written submission was also presented to Executive Vice-President Fitto, setting out detailed background on key areas of concern in the proposed new EU budget.
MEP Mullooly said the meeting came at a key point in the discussions on the structure of the next EU budget package.
“We are now at a key stage in terms of the structuring of the proposed EU budget package,” he said. “The obvious focus is on areas where there is a shortfall in funding, including pressure on single farm payments and key areas of cohesion. In the European Parliament in Strasbourg, I will be addressing these issues and seeking hard commitments with regard to areas where there is a shortfall.”
Executive Vice-President Fitto responded in a constructive and pragmatic manner, emphasising the need for simplification and a more flexible, modern Multiannual Financial Framework, while respecting the diversity of member states and regions. He also referred to future initiatives on territorial development and highlighted the importance of ensuring high-quality spending across cohesion policy and related sectors.
He underlined that the 'right to stay' will be a major forthcoming initiative, with further work also planned on islands, cities and eastern border regions.
MEP Mullooly said the engagement marked the beginning of a wider two-phase process, with the same group expected to come together again in September or October in Brussels.