Mairead McGuinness Fine Gael MEP

24 January 2012

The European Union has reached another significant milestone in its evolution, with Croatia voting on Sunday to join the EU. Over two-thirds of voters (66.24%) supported joining the EU, with 33.16% against membership.

For any doubters out there who question the longevity or prospects for the European project, this is a reassuring pledge of confidence – even though it is disappointing that only 44% of the population turned out to vote.

That said in these difficult times for the EU the Croatian vote to join the Union is welcome.
The old saying springs to mind – there is strength in unity.

Unity of purpose is also evident with a meeting of Eurogroup finance ministers in Brussels this week where the draft text of the new fiscal compact treaty is on the agenda. While no text has been formally finalised, progress is continuing. There have been several drafts but they key point of this treaty or agreement is to control Member States’ deficits – Germany wanted this enshrined in Member State constitutions but there are real concerns about this and secondary legislation is more likely.

We already have strict EU legislation on such matters and it is not entirely clear why this fiscal compact is necessary at all. But perhaps more discipline in national budgets is no bad thing – and is probably the only way for the EU to move forward out of the current difficulties.

At home, the IMF-EU-ECB Troika finished its quarterly review of the bailout programme in recent days. Ireland is continuing to meet its targets as was confirmed by this routine review.

This week also marks the 50th Anniversary of the Common Agricultural Policy. The CAP is one of Europe’s most significant pieces of legislation, governing our food production and security regulations.

It is interesting to note the changing focus of our CAP, especially as we prepare to reform the policy, post-2013.

In 1962 our primary concern was ensuring our citizens had enough food to eat. Today we are again realising the importance of food security with an emphasis on sustainable intensification of agriculture.

The year-long communication campaign includes an interactive website, a travelling exhibition, audio-visual and printed materials and many events across Europe. Click here to read more about CAP@50: http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/50-years-of-cap/index_en.htm

Young people who are willing and able to farm are vital for the future of agriculture and it’s important that they have the opportunity to share their views on future agricultural policy. Today (Tuesday) in the European Parliament in Brussels I host a special meeting with the European Council of Young Farmers (CEJA) at the European Parliament to listen to those views and ensure that they are reflected in the final outcome.

Changing times were also evident when I visited Kildare on Friday to hear first-hand about the impact the turf-cutting ban is having in Ireland East.

Under the EU Habitats Directive 32 Irish bogs were designated as ‘Special Areas of Conservation’, banning non-commercial turf cutting on 32 raised bogs. Similar restrictions on another 23 other sites has caused huge controversy and upset for families who rely on turf for fuel and those who wish to continue harvesting tradition.

A special derogation from the law in 1999 had allowed a limited amount of turf cutting for domestic purposes on a small number of bogs, but this waiver ended at the end of December last.

The European Commission has warned that Ireland faces heavy fines if the new rules are not implemented. This is a very difficult situation and I hope that intensive efforts to achieve a solution will bear fruit.