This week, an ICOS delegation led by Dairy Committee Chairman, Jerry Long met with representatives of the English, Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish Farmers Unions in Brussels.

In a comprehensive and wide ranging meeting topics addressed included; contracts, markets, EIB Agri investments. But of key concern to us is the growing debate on a potential exit of the UK from the EU and the implications of such a move on our common agriculture interests.

It is clear that the NFU have been doing a lot of work on the subject, and have produced a comprehensive document laying our as what they see as the facts economically for UK agriculture in possible results of either staying or leaving. (Summary of the publication is at the end of this article.)

The report did state that overall trade between the UK and Ireland in Agri terms were balanced at about £3.5 billion in each direction.

This was interesting in the context of complaints about Irish dairy and beef being heavily featured in the British market.

The British delegation explained that at present the NFU were not taking a view point either way on the referendum in terms of directing its members, but only that they saw themselves on giving factual information at present.

They did say that this position might change as they see the British government/ EU proposals becoming clear, but at present that they were staying neutral.

While ICOS made it clear that we were in no position to dictate the will of citizens in the UK, we did strongly feel that as agricultural partners and in terms of retaining a strong common work programme on regulatory issues at European level, that we very much supported the continued membership of the UK in the EU.

We also raised concerns regarding the importance of our relationship with Northern Ireland, and the existence from a co-operative perspective of many cross border farmer owned business and interests which will be undoubtedly be affected by uncertainty created around this debate.

ERSI Report

The meeting was even more fitting in the context of the publication of the ERSI report this week examining the implications on Ireland of a BREXIT.

The ESRI said: “The resulting changed relationship between the UK and the EU could potentially have far-reaching consequences for Ireland.”

Should the UK exit from the EU go ahead (Brexit), slower economic growth in the UK and a reduction of its GDP could have a negative impact on Irish economy and Irish Dairy and Agriculture in particular.

Britain is a key Agri trade partner for us and the ERSI report predicts a trade loss of up to 20%.

With about 40% of the €10.5 billion of Irish Agri exports going to our neighbours it is not rocket science as to where our feelings lie in this debate.

It is not the role of ICOS or Ireland in general to dictate what will ultimately be the choice of the British people. But it is incumbent on us to outline why exactly we feel we are better working together in partnership rather than a seismic recasting of our relationship outside the EU.

The single market has been a wonderful success story.

While the UK remaining as a strong, core EU member is the overwhelming preference of Irish Agriculture and ICOS and we look forward to working with our partners in the British NFUs to ensure our relationships deepen further, as we have been allies for a long time on many EU issues.

The full ERSI report can be accessed here: http://www.esri.ie/pubs/RS48adfadfh345.pdf

An NFU Q&A on Brexit is here: http://www.nfuonline.com/news/eu-referendum/qa-the-eu/

By Conor Mulvihill

European Affairs Executive