There are ways to close the gap in proposed funding for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) after 2027, but EU member states must also boost their co-financing contributions, Irish MEP Barry Cowen told a farmers’ meeting.
The Fianna Fáil MEP was speaking at a meeting today (Thursday 9 April) he organized in Mullingar on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy.
Current proposals for the new Common Agricultural Policy, as part of the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028-34, which were first published last summer, envisage a 20% cut in total funds available to farmers over that period.
Although these are just proposals at this stage, the proposed reduction has received global condemnation from agricultural organizations, as well as politicians from rural constituencies.
talking to Agriland At the meeting, Quinn suggested that finance is a central sticking point in the upcoming Common Agricultural Policy.
“Well, the first issue is the whole financing issue,” he said. “What the Commission is proposing is 20% less than the current Common Agricultural Policy is.”
He added: “There is a realization, there is a reality in the budget that spending on areas like defense and security is real, and that is the main factor that has contributed to the reduction that we have.”
“We have to accept and realize that there are many Eastern Bloc countries that are more interested in tanks than tractors to be completely honest,” the North West Midlands MEP said.
However, Quinn said there are ways to make up for, or at least partially make up for, the shortfall in CAP funding in the future.
One of these was The commitment was announced in January by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen Submit a proposal to provide an additional €45 billion in the first year (2028) of the next long-term EU budget for farm payments, by bringing forward funds reserved after the mid-term review of the Multiannual Financial Framework.
This proposal came as part of efforts to gain support among member states for the trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur.
“We have identified and will be making proposals on how to fill this gap primarily thanks to the financing made available by the Commission under the Mercosur Agreement, in terms of the guarantees and conditions associated with that, where another €45 billion of financing will be made available from within the Commission’s Multiannual Financial Framework for agriculture in the middle of the next Common Agricultural Policy,” Coen said.
“We want to move forward with that, and allow that to be in the context of the Common Agricultural Policy,” he added.
Another potential solution to the funding shortfall is a proposed €48 billion scheme for rural development (which differs from the familiar second pillar of rural development in the CAP process) and Regional Cohesion Payments, which would support policies such as LEEDER.
Quinn said he wants to see this under the purview of the Common Agricultural Policy so it can supplement the farm payments budget while also continuing to support the LEADER program.
Next, member states must step up to protect farm payments.
“The responsibility will then be on the likes of the Irish government and other countries committed to matching funding, so there are no more conditions for payments at present, but we will look at rewarding those who are moving towards increasing sustainable production, who are moving towards pursuing innovations, following new technology, and encouraging generational renewal to become a reality, and that there will be a payment-based system, or a rewards-based system for that,” Quinn said.
He added: “This is included in the provisions, but it is clear that ambition can only be achieved by increasing the budget, and here I return to the first point I mentioned. Ambitions and priorities are good, but they are no more than that if they are not compatible with funding.”
