Representatives of the Member States of the European Union supported the European Commission's proposal on 20 June to grant €50 million to Irish beef producers, an amount that can be matched by national funds for a maximum of €100 million (see EUROPE 12262/7).
This exceptional measure is justified, according to the Commission, by the particular challenges faced by Irish farmers due, on the one hand, to the market uncertainty created by Brexit and, on the other hand, to the prolonged period of low prices.
Once the text is formally adopted by the Commission in early July, the Irish authorities will have until the end of the month to define the criteria for granting the aid, according to a pre-established framework. This will include avoiding distortions of competition in the distribution of funds, the Commission stresses.
This support aims to ensure the long-term viability of the Irish beef sector through the development of new markets, the implementation of quality systems or the improvement of the environmental sustainability of production. Due to the fall in prices, which in 2018 caused margins in the beef sector to fall by between 11 % and 19 %, Ireland estimates that the country's livestock farmers lost just over €100 million. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)