Longford MEP calls for greater support for community groups

Speaking in the European Parliament in Brussels today, Ciaran Mullooly MEP urged the European Commission to demonstrate greater trust in community groups that are actively working to enhance and develop local resources. Drawing on his extensive experience in rural development, he highlighted both the successes and challenges faced by community-led projects that have availed of EU funding.

Based on these insights, MEP Mullooly put forward key demands to ensure that EU funding delivers real, tangible benefits to rural communities:

Firstly upfront funding for proven community groups with a track record of successfully implementing EU-funded projects should be entrusted to manage their own funding. Instead of requiring them to take on costly bank loans to bridge the gap before receiving EU payments, the Commission should provide upfront financial support. This would allow projects to proceed without unnecessary financial strain.

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Secondly, reducing bureaucratic burdens – MEP Mullooly criticised the excessive red tape that disproportionately affects smaller funding recipients. He called for a meaningful reduction in unnecessary bureaucracy, ensuring that community groups can focus on delivering impactful projects rather than navigating complex administrative hurdles.

Finally, MEP Mullooly warned that efforts to rejuvenate rural areas would be futile if the EU continues to pursue trade agreements, such as the Mercosur deal, that threaten the viability of farm families. “There is no point in talking about revitalising rural communities while at the same time signing trade deals that will drive farmers off the land,” he stated.

“What we have, we should hold.”

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