Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh has been appointed the European Parliament’s lead negotiator on generational renewal, placing her at the centre of upcoming negotiations on the future of farming in Europe.
A full member of the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee, MEP Walsh will lead Parliament negotiations on measures to attract and retain the next generation of farmers, including increased supports for young and female farmers and stronger mental health supports. The negotiations will take place alongside Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of 2026.
MEP Maria Walsh said:
“I am honoured to be appointed lead negotiator on generational renewal and to act as the European Parliament’s voice for young farmers. As a young farmer from the West of Ireland, it is a privilege to lead this work among 720 MEPs.
“We are facing a crisis in Irish and European agriculture – who will farm our land into the future? In Ireland, the average age of a farmer is 58 years old while the number of farmers under the age of 35 has halved over the past 20 years. My number one priority is clear; support for young farmers must be increased. I don’t want aspirational targets; I want clear commitments.
“I will be looking for tangible ways to bring young people back into farming, and ensure the next generation is well resourced and secure. Access to finance and land are two of the biggest barriers at present. Too many young farmers are turned away by traditional banks and have few alternatives. In 2022, young farmers across the EU faced a €14.1 billion financing gap – 22% of the sector’s total shortfall. I will be pushing for dedicated EU funding and low-interest loan schemes tailored specifically to young farmers.
“In order to unlock access to land, we must also look to the older generations. Tax incentives for older farmers willing to lease or sell land to young entrants will help alleviate the problem, as will expanding schemes like the Land Mobility Service to encourage more partnerships between retiring and young farmers. Promoting cooperative models of farming – where groups of young farmers can pool resources to purchase or lease land – can be another way to reduce the individual financial burden of land acquisition.
“CAP support is also crucial. The Commission recently proposed increasing CAP funding for young farmers from 3% to 6%. However, this new target is non-binding, meaning that national governments can ignore it if they so choose. One of my top priorities will be to ensure this target becomes mandatory and is accompanied by ring-fenced funding.
“The timing of this file is significant. It will coincide with Ireland’s EU Presidency and the wider CAP reform negotiations, giving Ireland a real opportunity to lead. Minister Martin Heydon’s Generational Renewal Strategy – the first of its kind in the EU – shows the direction we need to go. I look forward to working closely with him to ensure Europe delivers for the next generation of farmers.”