EU Farm Commissioner Phil Hogan has identified three key areas he wants the new CAP post-2020 to focus on – environment, modernisation and young farmers.

Mr Hogan also said that he would 'love' to be the Commissioner for Agriculture again next year following the European elections, if the Prime Minister of Ireland nominated him.

The Commissioner was speaking at the EU Agricultural Outlook conference in Brussels, which this year had the title ‘The future of food and farming: food for thought.’

This event has become a key annual gathering of European policymakers and stakeholders, providing an opportunity to engage and discuss the future of agriculture in Europe and the challenges which lie ahead.

During the conference Mr Hogan outlined why the Commission's proposal for the CAP 2021-2027 could be a 'game-changer', delivering better results for European farmers and citizens alike, not least in relation to environmental protection and the climate challenge.

He said: “A truly modern policy for food, farming and rural development has to deliver clearer and more effective results. Our proposals include important and specific EU requirements which will increase the level of environmental and climate ambition.

“We need to help young people who wish to take up farming because young farmers are the catalyst for change and modernisation and, in an increasingly global and more competitive environment, they hold the key to improving Europe’s competitive edge.

“Our trade policy, which is creating thousands of jobs annually, is contributing significantly to the growth and vitality of rural communities throughout the union. We need to continue to support rural communities, in line with the conclusions of the Cork 2.0 Declaration.

“Our solution is a new delivery model, which redesigns not only the tools to achieve better results, but ensures that the key decisions are taken at national or regional level, rather than in Brussels.

“We are proposing greater subsidiarity for the Member States and the regions because we believe that key decision-makers should be closer to those on whom their decisions will impact most directly,” he added.