Fitzmaurice: 'Tanks and guns more important than farmers and food security' to EU
Tanks and guns "seem to be more important than farmers and food security" when it comes to the European Union's key priorities at this time according to Independent Ireland’s agriculture spokesperson.
The Roscommon-Galway TD, Michael Fitzmaurice, today (Tuesday, July 15) said new documents in circulation appear to indicate that the EU has “zero ambition to protect food security”.
A new Multi-annual Financial Framework (MFF) is expected to be published tomorrow Wednesday (July 16), along with proposals on the format of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) post-2027.
In documents seen by Agriland, it is stated that 2024-2029 Political Guidelines of the European Commission call for a CAP that is “more targeted and finds the right balance between incentives, investment and regulation and ensures that farmers have a fair and sufficient income”.
According to Deputy Fitzmaurice the CAP proposal and potential new MFF could result in "a €1 billion reduction in EU funds to Ireland over a five year period".
"The only reprieve that appears in the document may be on the Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition 2 (GAEC 2) but the devil will be in the detail when the official document is released"
"Despite the EU’s recent decision to allocate billions of euros to military infrastructure and weapons systems.
"Tanks and guns seem to be more important than farmers and food security – and that tells you everything you need to know about where the EU’s priorities lie right now," Deputy Fitzmaurice added.
According to Independent Ireland’s agriculture spokesperson if a new single-fund model is agreed then key CAP elements including Pillar II and rural development would be merged together which would put "Ireland’s rural economy at direct risk".
“This proposal lumps everything into one big pot – and while there’s reference to designated areas and environmental schemes, there’s no detail on where the money will actually come from. If the budget isn’t increased, then it means cuts elsewhere.
"That’s the reality," he warned.
The Roscommon–Galway TD said speculation about the future of CAP is taking place while Irish farmers are coming under increasing pressure to reduce their output and herds.
He said: “The national herd has already been cut by another 3% in a year based on recent figures, and this comes on top of the closure of over 2,100 pubs in recent years, predominantly in rural communities.
"Between Brussels and our own government, it’s hard to see who’s fighting harder to hollow out rural Ireland.”
Deputy Fitzmaurice said he is also concerned about references in the circulated CAP document on nitrate limits.
“There’s a line about nitrates but no explanation – that’s not good enough.
"Farmers are being asked to do more and more with less and less, and that is simply not sustainable," he added.
Today the TD called on the government to “stand up and fight” over the coming year of negotiations
“We’re heading into a crucial period.
"The government needs to get stuck in now to push for a significant increase in the overall CAP budget.
"If not, it will fall on national government to fill the gap—and they must. We need domestic co-financing and national top-ups to protect jobs, support farm incomes, and halt the mass exodus of stock from the land," Deputy Fitzmaurice added.
