Ciarán Mullooly: CAP rules could add inspections and red tape
MEP Ciarán Mullooly addressed the committee following the Court of Auditors' presentation, warning that the proposed regulation contains vague impact indicators and could increase administrative burden. He urged that simplification remain the priority to protect farmers from extra inspections and audits.
Key concern: Court of Auditors' findings
Ciarán Mullooly thanked the Court of Auditors for its presentation but warned that phrases in the report already cause concern in committee. He highlighted that the Court flags weak impact indicators and areas where links between funding and results are unclear.
Impact on farmers: CAP at the centre
Mullooly stressed that the regulation will directly affect farmers because a substantial part of the EU budget is devoted to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Farmers already face extensive rules, inspections and targets under CAP payments covering animal welfare, environmental standards and land management.
Administrative burden: inspections and audits
The MEP asked whether the proposal can guarantee that it will not lead to more inspections, more audits or more red tape for EU and Irish farmers. He acknowledged support for transparency and accountability but warned these aims must not translate into additional paperwork for farmers or Member States managing programmes.
Priority: remain on simplification
Mullooly concluded that simplification must be the key mission and cannot be treated as secondary. He urged legislators to keep reducing administrative burdens while ensuring public accountability for EU funds.
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Thank you Chair and thank you to the Court of Auditors for their presentation. Although, when one listens to it closely, there are words and phrases which are already causing concern in this committee this afternoon. It will be complex, they tell us. There are no clear links between funding and results in some areas and they've highlighted the weakness in impact indicators. Colleagues, this regulation will have a direct impact on farmers, particularly because a substantial part of the EU budget is devoted to the Common Agricultural Policy. Farmers are already subject to extensive rules, inspections and targets under the CAP payments, including on animal welfare, environmental standards and indeed land management. They're already doing their part and they're already carrying out a significant administrative burden. So I ask, can we assure EU and Irish farmers that this proposal will not lead to more inspections, more audits or indeed more red tape? We all support transparency and public accountability in how our EU funds are spent, but this must not translate into additional administrative work for farmers or indeed for Member States responsible for administering these programmes. So the key mission here must be to remain on simplification. That goal cannot be secondary, it must remain our priority. Thank you.
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