This week, we mark Europe Day, a day to recognise the positive contributions the European Union has made to Ireland, to this region and on the world stage. We also need to apply a level of self-criticism to the work of the European Union because it has become painfully clear over the past number of years that the EU has shifted far from its core vision and values. Right now, the EU, in particular the European Commission, does not appear to be acting with respect for the collective position of EU citizens and elected Members of the European Parliament. Late last year, we saw widespread opposition to the ratification of the EU Mercosur trade deal by everybody, from farmers to environmentalists. A majority of MEPs voted to refer the Mercosur agreement to the European Court of Justice, yet the Commission chose to cast those concerns to the wind and press ahead to enact the trade deal. How does it look to our farming communities to have their concerns ridden over roughshod by the power of the European Commission? Our farmers and rural communities are feeling the pressure. They are struggling and they are frustrated that their concerns are not being taken on board. There is deep worry for the future. CAP funding is clearly under threat as the Commission seems more keen to increase the budget for arms and bombs than to continue to invest in our food security. If those billions were put into the agri sector instead, we could transform agriculture and our wider food sectors. We would be able to deliver a Common Agricultural Policy far greater than the limits of the current CAP, one that would rejuvenate farming and rural communities and deliver generational renewal. Our food products and those of other member states are among the highest quality in the world. The sky should be the limit for our agri sector. Instead, we see from the Commission a rush to outsource food production to South America and other countries. The majority of people on the island of Ireland would vote for Irish unity as part of the EU. This would hugely help with disease outbreaks in the farming sector, such as the bluetongue virus and bovine viral diarrhoea, BVD. Europe will play its part. We need a referendum because farming knows no boundaries. We have a great opportunity to hold talks during the EU Presidency, and I hope we will.

Sentiment score: 0.17