Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Commissioner for coming here today.

Most of the questions on the CAP, Brexit and so on have been addressed by my colleagues on the committee so I will change tack slightly. Agrifood trade between the European Union and Africa has become a deficit situation for the African countries, with potentially serious consequences. The migrant crisis continues to rage and the imbalance in trade can lead to unemployment on African farmlands, food security risks, rural flight and migration, all of which are being experienced. Will the Commission consider carrying out a human rights assessment of trade matters with Africa in terms of agrifood? If we can support African countries to create jobs and make farming sustainable in the agrifood sector in their own countries, it will reduce the flow of migration towards Europe. One of the Danish agriculture groups, Arla, has carried out a human rights assessment of its trade in terms of the impacts of that. At a European level, is that something the Commissioner would consider?