My weekly update - Main contents

At the meeting of the College of Commissioners on Wednesday we launched the work on the Energy Union, one of the key political priorities of President Juncker.

Another busy week and another insightful visit to a member state, though not too much travelling involved this time! I visited a livestock and tillage farm owned by Nicolas Braibant in Corroy-le-Grand, in Wallonia and a pig farm belonged to Mr De Baerdeaeker in Asse, in Flanders. As Commissioner for Agriculture it is important for me to get out and about to meet farmers and hear their views.

On Tuesday I gave the keynote speech to the Food Innovation Summit. Innovation Innovation is a key priority in my mandate as Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development. It's something that allows us to find new and better ways to do things. It's about good ideas and I want to see plenty of those good ideas put to use in agriculture by encourage young innovators who see farming as an attractive, high tech and rewarding career.

On Wednesday I met with the Austrian Minister for Agriculture Andrä Rupprechter. I also met the Cypriot Minister for Agriculture this week, Nicos Kouyialis. Engaging with representatives from member states is another way for me to hear the views of European citizens through their elected representatives. Working in cooperation with Agricultural Ministers as well as with the members of the European Parliament will ensure that the three institutions function in a smooth and cohesive manner.

At the meeting of the College of Commissioners on Wednesday we launched the work on the Energy Union, one of the key political priorities of President Juncker. It is a fundamental step towards the completion of single energy market and reforming how Europe produces, transports and consumes energy. Energy security is high on the political agenda, and a door for an ambitious climate agreement in Paris at the end of 2015 was opened in the European Council last October. So as part of the project team I will gladly collaborate on this task. The goal of ensuring the secure and sustainable supply of energy to the European Union is not to be underestimated but I do see not only the importance, but also the potential of agriculture in it.

I also recorded a short piece for the visitors centre here at the Commission; I hope that many of you reading this will have a chance to visit the centre at some point to learn more about this institution and the work we do here. If not, I will endeavour to keep you updated through this blog and my twitter account on what is going on, especially in the world of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Yesterday I received Irish Prime Minister An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD, who was accompanied by the Irish Minister of State for European Affairs Dara Murphy TD. It was a pleasure to welcome them to Brussels again. We discussed investment and rural development and it also gave my team a chance to learn a little more about the country I know best!

The week ended with the College of Commissioners seminar, an opportunity for us Commissioners to get together and think about new approaches to issues facing us currently.

That's all for this week but I will be back next week with more insights into the world of European Agriculture!