Proposed CAP budget cut 'a hammer blow' for sector - Gorman
The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) has said the European Commission must be "faced down" on proposals for the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) budget.
The EU Commission today (Wednesday, July 16) proposed a €300 billion package of supports for farmers as part of the next long term EU budget totalling €2 trillion.
The budget for the current CAP, due to run until 2027, stands at €387 billion.
Speaking from Brussels, IFA president Francie Gorman said the scale of the proposed cut to the CAP budget would have "significant and negative ramifications" for Irish agriculture and the rural economy.
“The only definitive figure for farming supports is 20% lower than the current budget. This would be a hammer blow for the sector if it were to go ahead.
"Both the EU Council and the EU Parliament have to step up here and face down the EU Commission. This move would imperil food security if allowed through,” he said.
The IFA president believes farmers would not be convinced that the new structure of the overall budget would allow them to draw down higher levels of funding compared to what currently exists.
“44% of the €2 billion envelope that is allocated to Ireland comes via rural development and farm schemes.
"If this is not ringfenced, there is no guarantee that it will make its way to farmers. And this move comes when the commission is proposing a much larger overall budget,” he said.
The IFA president added that the commission proposal to take farm payments away from farmers who are in receipt of a pension is "totally unacceptable".
“The EU Commission needs to be honest with consumers. Cutting CAP funding will in turn lead to a reduction in food production and ultimately to food price inflation,” he said.
Gorman said that there is a big battle ahead to "retrieve a coherent policy from what the EU Commission is proposing".
“These proposals will have to be approved by the member states and the EU Parliament so there is a long journey ahead and we will expect a real fight from our government and MEPs.
“The EU presidency, which Ireland will assume this time next year for the second half of 2026, takes on added importance.
"Our government has to secure the maximum funding for Irish farmers to encourage the next generation to consider farming as a career.
"From the Taoiseach down, this has to be front and centre of every discussion across those six months,” he said.
The IFA president said the European Parliament will also have a crucial role to play in the ultimate ratification of the overall budget and the CAP.
“We will be looking to our Irish MEPs to build alliances with colleagues to ensure that direct supports for farm families are not diminished.
"There’s a huge amount at stake over the next 12 months and it will take a huge effort from everybody to secure an outcome that points to a positive future for our largest indigenous sector,” he said.
