Offaly MEP Cowen appointed to agriculture role with Review Europe group
Fianna Fáil MEP for the Midlands North-West, Barry Cowen, has today been appointed to a pivotal role in shaping the future of agriculture within the European Union over the coming years.
The Renew Europe group - to which Fianna Fáil belongs - this morning appointed MEP Cowen as the group’s shadow rapporteur for an upcoming report titled ‘The Future of Agriculture and the Post-2027 Common Agricultural Policy’. It is believed the report will be monitored closely by the European Commission as they prepare for discussions around the next CAP.
In addition to negotiating the eventual report, the Fianna Fáil MEP has also committed to publishing his own comprehensive position paper outlining his vision for the future of farming and CAP.
He hopes to gain the backing of the Renew Group for this paper and to derive any amendments the group puts forward directly from it.
MEP Cowen said that a key focus of his CAP reform agenda will be the creation of a third, distinct environmental pillar within CAP - a proposal that aims to balance sustainability and productivity in a way that delivers for farmers and the environment alike.
Today’s announcement follows MEP Cowen’s recent success in helping secure Ireland as the host location for one of the European Parliament’s AGRI Committee delegations in 2025.
Speaking on his appointment, Barry Cowen MEP said: “It is an honour to be appointed to such a significant role at this early stage of my term as an MEP. Agriculture and the future of farming were central to the policy agenda I ran my campaign on earlier this year and I am delighted to now have a tangible opportunity to make a real impact on the direction of agriculture policy at an EU level.
“The CAP has long been a cornerstone of Irish and European agriculture and we must ensure it returns to its core mission of delivering for farmers, food producers and rural communities. I firmly believe that by introducing a third, distinct environmental pillar, we can achieve a CAP that balances environmental sustainability with economic viability for our farmers.
“In preparation for the drafting of my position paper, I will undertake an intensive stakeholder engagement process. I look forward to meeting with farmers, foresters, agricultural innovators, representative bodies and others to hear their perspectives and ensure their voices are reflected in my proposals.
“I am committed to delivering practical and forward-thinking reforms that will support Ireland’s farmers while positioning European agriculture to meet future challenges and opportunities head-on.”