EU Comissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development
Phil Hogan studied Economics and Geography in Cork (Ireland). After working on the family farm and create his own company, he gave way to local politics. Since then he has been part of the Irish Parliament and held senior positions in the Fine Gael party. In 2011 he was appointed Minister of Environment and Local Government, a position he held until 214, when he was appointed European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development.
Among his responsibilities are:
- Ensuring that EU agricultural and rural development policies promote growth, investment and new jobs.
- Reviewing the effectiveness of EU spending on agriculture and rural development.
- Identifying how European agriculture can be more energy efficient and can lower its carbon dioxide emissions.
- Examining ways to simplify direct payments for farmers.