In advance of an official invitation to meet the commissioner on the election of the new ICOS president at the end of the month, our engagement with the new commissioner and his team continued with a briefing at COGECA offices.

Hogan laid out his priorities regarding CAP simplification, stating that we wants results after his first year in office.

On the Russian ban he said that financial resources were tight, but that he would protect the crisis reserve and that he would be reviewing the workings of market tools closely.

He declared himself a major fan of the co-operative model for Agri business, declaring that the co-operative form was a ‘bulwark’ for farm families, a generator of employment in rural communities, enabling value added production and retaining the wealth in local communities.

On dairy, he is not convinced at present by a butterfat adjustment, stating that he has no intention to change any rules before March 2015, and said that farmers should reduce supply to minimise their bills.

The Commissioner will meet an official ICOS delegation in the New Year once the new presidential team is elected.