They aren’t what the UK were looking for and there should be no surprise in that. Of course, Ireland wants to keep the door to the UK open more than anyone but just as it is the UK’s prerogative to leave and do what it wants afterwards, the reality is that it cannot shape its future relationship with the EU singlehandedly.
They aren’t what the UK were looking for and there should be no surprise in that.
Of course, Ireland wants to keep the door to the UK open more than anyone but just as it is the UK’s prerogative to leave and do what it wants afterwards, the reality is that it cannot shape its future relationship with the EU singlehandedly.
It takes two to tango and the future EU relationship will be shaped as much in Brussels as it will be in London.
Saturday was the first clear signal that this will be the case.
Headlines
Farmers will be disappointed agriculture didn’t make it into the headlines. However, in the grand scheme of things, that isn’t the end of the world.
There are two big issues for farmers – future CAP funding and what trade policy the UK adopts on exit.
The CAP negotiation will be an internal EU matter in which the Irish Government has to ensure agriculture gets the priority it needs. There has been success with getting Ireland’s position centre stage in negotiations so far and An Taoiseach can be well pleased if this is his last summit that he has got out at the top. In the UK there is a tradition of senior politicians moving to the House of Lords. While a similar facility doesn’t exist in Ireland, the Government should consider retaining his services in a Brexit-related role.
Replacing one with the other
The crunch issue now will be the negotiation around what trade arrangement will replace EU membership for the UK.
The importance of that market for Irish agriculture is well documented. Equally important is what arrangements the UK will have with other countries and regions once it has its independence.
If the UK pursues a cheap food policy, the market value of Irish agriculture will plummet. Historically, the EU had intervention policies when the market failed and these may have to be considered again to create stability.
Irish farmers cannot be left picking up the tab for the Brexit bill, and we need to make sure we remain in the first paragraph of the EU’s negotiating priorities.
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‘I don’t envisage tariffs on Irish beef’
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