Pragmatist or featherweight? Ursula Von der Leyen blamed for bad deal on tariffs, but EU had no stomach for a fight
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Agriland
11 hours ago
- Agriland
Macra sets out stance on CAP payments for pensioner farmers
Macra has called for "mandatory" farm succession plans for farmers over 63 and "transition payments" for farmers from 67-70 years-of-age. Responding to a query from Agriland on Macra's stance on support payments to farmers in receipt of a pension, Macra national president Josephine O'Neill outlined the rural youth organisation's position. She said: "We need to examine this in the context of creating opportunities to facilitate generational renewal and collaborative arrangements between younger and older farmers plus the reality of a reduced Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) budget. Last month, the European Commission presented its Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) - the EU's long-term budget - which proposed to end farm support payments for farmers once they reach pension age. The Macra leader told Agriland that the rural youth organisation previously proposed a mechanism to the EU Commission for this current CAP programme (2023-2027), which aimed "to encourage succession planning among older farmers". The Macra proposal involves a farm-succession model, which aims to accommodate the needs of older farmers and improve access to land for young farmers. The key aspects of Macra's CAP policy proposal to improve generational renewal include: Once a farmer reaches the age of 63, it becomes mandatory to complete a farm succession plan; At the age of 65, farmers avail of a transition payment up to the age of 70; A farmer that wishes to continue to receive CAP supports beyond the age of 70 would need to get involved in a collaborative arrangement. The Macra president said: "The proposal includes upon reaching 63, it becomes mandatory for all farmers to complete a farm succession plan. "From the age of 65-70, farmers will receive a transition payment in order to both facilitate and support their exit from the industry. "For farmers that wish to continue to receive a CAP payment beyond the age of 70, such a farmer would need to get involved in a collaborative arrangement." The Macra president has told Agriland that Macra will be further discussing the recent EU Commission CAP proposals and examining the range of potential tools available from the Commission to tackle generational renewal. "All options need to be seriously examined so that we can address the lack of young people entering farming," O'Neill said.
Irish Examiner
13 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Hong Kong imposes new measures on overseas-based activists
Hong Kong authorities strengthened a crackdown on 16 overseas-based activists who were previously targeted by bounties on suspicion of endangering national security, implementing measures that include banning financial support to them and cancelling passports for most of them. The activists were among 19 people who were targeted with arrest warrants in July for alleged roles in Hong Kong Parliament, a group the police called a subversive organisation abroad. The organisation is not the city's official legislature and its influence is limited. Three of the original 19 activists were already targeted by similar measures last year. Secretary for Security Chris Tang banned providing funds or economic resources to the 16 activists, including Victor Ho, Keung Ka-wai, Australian academic Chongyi Feng and US citizen Gong Sasha, the Hong Kong government said in a statement. Travel documents were cancelled for 12 of the 16 who hold Hong Kong passports. The government also prohibited properties from being leased to the people on the list or forming joint ventures with them. The extraterritorial targeting of Hong Kongers who are exercising their fundamental freedoms is a form of transnational repression Anyone violating the orders risks a penalty of up to seven years in prison. The 16 activists are hiding in the UK, the US, Canada, Germany, Australia, Thailand and Taiwan, among other regions, the government said, accusing them of continuing to engage in activities endangering national security. The notice also accused them of intending to incite hatred against Beijing and Hong Kong through smear and slander. 'We therefore have taken such measures to make a significant impact,' the statement said. Beijing imposed a national security law on the territory in 2020 that has effectively wiped out most public dissent following huge anti-government protests in 2019. Many activists were arrested, silenced or forced into self-exile. The measures announced Monday were issued under the powers granted by Hong Kong's homegrown national security law enacted last year. The arrest warrants issued in July have drawn criticism from foreign governments, including the US, the UK and the European Union. Police offered rewards of 200,000 Hong Kong dollars (25,480 US dollars) to one million Hong Kong dollars (127,400 US dollars) for information leading to their arrests. In a July statement, US secretary of state Marco Rubio condemned the moves. 'The extraterritorial targeting of Hong Kongers who are exercising their fundamental freedoms is a form of transnational repression,' he said. 'We will not tolerate the Hong Kong government's attempts to apply its national security laws to silence or intimidate Americans or anyone on US soil.' The Hong Kong office of the Chinese Foreign Ministry responded by opposing criticism from foreign politicians, insisting the actions were legitimate. The governements in Beijing and Hong Kong said the security laws were necessary for the city's stability.
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Irish Independent
Eoin O'Malley: Removing Ursula von der Leyen would allow EU states to take back control
The capitulation was complete. It was a captured image of the Teutonic president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, giving Donald Trump's trademark thumbs-up as she stood beside the beaming US president.
