The Green Party has said that the Proposed EU Budget for 2028-35, which was unveiled this week, must be "reframed" to protect farming, rural development and nature restoration.

According to the party, the budget will "decimate the standalone budget" for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), as well as social funds and cohesion policy.

The Green Party said that the proposed new governance system allowing member states to allocate funding at their own discretion will dilute the EU’s ability to address "shared challenges" of climate, nature, food security and migration.

The party has also expressed concern that this will also result in the end of the LEADER Rural Development Fund, as this is proposed to be merged with direct farm payments under CAP.

Green Party leader Roderic O'Gorman said: "While this is the opening salvo in a lengthy process, we are concerned that the direction of travel here from the [European] Commission, prioritises ramping up defence and competitiveness spending at the expense of the social and environmental agenda.

"We are calling on the Irish government to make its position clear on the proposals and to engage with civil society and farm organisations here to share views on this drastic change in direction," he added.

He also said that there is nothing in the budget proposal to support member states' nature restoration plans, even though the Nature Restoration Law is now in force.

According to the Green Party leader, farmers in particular need certainty around long-term funding mechanisms for nature, climate and water issues.

Also commenting on the commission's proposals, senator Malcolm Noonan - one of the two Green Party members of the Oireachtas, along with O'Gorman - said: "Handing greater control to member states to set their own spending priorities will lead to inconsistencies across the [EU], particularly where there are governments in countries that don’t see climate or nature as politically expedient.

"We need a dedicated fund to support the implementation of nature restoration plans to ensure consistency of approach and transboundary benefits," Noonan added.