The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, has warned that the European Commission is "proposing major changes in structure" as Europe braces itself for further details of the the next EU long term budget and the next Common Agriculture Policy (CAP).

The proposed trillion-euro Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) – which sets out the spending priorities and limits for the next seven years - is set to be unveiled today (Wednesday, July 16).

The Commissioner for Budget, Anti-Fraud and Public Administration Piotr Serafin, will present the commission's proposals on the MFF to the members of the Committee on Budgets (BUDG) this afternoon.

The European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, Christophe Hansen, will also present details of the proposed next Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) to the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development later today.

Speaking ahead of the formal release of these proposals, Minister Heydon said that they will be "complex legislative proposals which will need detailed consideration".

"The commission is proposing major changes in structure that we will now study in detail in order to better understand the impact on Ireland," the minister added.

He also acknowledged that specific provisions have been included in the commission proposals for key policies, including CAP and the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) - which has sparked concerns among Irish farm organisations as to how these may impact farmers in Ireland.

Minister Heydon said: “My priority throughout will be to ensure that the legislation finally agreed reflects Ireland’s concerns and provides certainty and stability for farmers, fishers and rural communities.”

He said while the publication of the proposals is a key development today, it is only the start of a process which will form a key focus for Ireland when it assumes the EU Presidency in July 2026.

Minister Heydon added: “Today’s publication is just the beginning of a protracted process. Member states will, through the Council of Ministers, begin the process of agreeing a general approach to the commission’s proposals, before engaging in line by line negotiations with the EU Parliament and the EU Commission.  

"This will take some time, and I fully expect the progression of these proposals to be a significant feature of Ireland’s Presidency of the EU Council in the second half of next year.”

He has pledged to "work closely" with his EU counterparts, with the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, Christophe Hansen, and with stakeholders, including farm organisations.

“I will host the first meeting of Ireland’s CAP consultative committee tomorrow which will engage in detail on these proposals,” he added.