Hanrahan elected vice-chair of Copa Cogeca beef group

(L-R) Jerzy Wierzbicki, Dominique Fayel and Declan Hanrahan of the Copa Cogeca working party on beef Source: Copa Cogeca on X
(L-R) Jerzy Wierzbicki, Dominique Fayel and Declan Hanrahan of the Copa Cogeca working party on beef Source: Copa Cogeca on X

Declan Hanrahan has been elected as one of the new vice-chairs of the Copa Cogeca working party on beef.

Hanrahan, a beef farmer from Co. Laois, is currently the chair of the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) Livestock Committee.

Copa Cogeca, the European umbrella organisation representing farmers and agri-cooperatives, is headquartered in Brussels.

Dominique Fayel, a prominent figure in French agriculture was reappointed as chair of the working party on beef.

While Jerzy Wierzbicki from Poland and Declan Hanrahan were elected as new vice chairs of the group.

"Their combined expertise and leadership will be key in navigating the critical challenges facing the EU beef sector starting," Copa Cogeca said.

Meanwhile, Copa Cogeca has voiced it concerns after the European Parliament approved plans to introduce tariffs on fertiliser from Russia and its ally Belarus.

A vote in a full, or plenary, session of the parliament saw MEPs overwhelmingly back the proposal from the European Commission to introduce fertiliser tariffs on the two countries.

The proposal was made in response to the war in Ukraine, in which Belarus has aided Russia.

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The proposal has long concerned EU farm organisations, who, despite defending the rationale for the tariffs as part of the EU’s support for Ukraine, are concerned that it will make fertiliser more expensive for farmers in the bloc.

The commission’s proposed tariffs are now set to come into effect on July 1, it is understood.

“Farming communities understand and support the overall objective pursued by the EU institutions.

“However, the complete lack of consideration for alternative sourcing, the absence of an impact assessment, and the lack of clarity on market implications, remain deeply problematic,” Copa Cogeca said.

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