EU farm ministers meet to decide on Fischler’s proposals
Wholesale changes to the CAP, which will swallow nearly half of the EU’s 100 billion budget this year, are proposed by Farm Commissioner Franz Fischler.
Dr Fischler seeks to overhaul the distribution of agricultural funding by shifting aid from market production to rural development, quality production and support for better environmental standards.
Decoupling, the separation of farm subsidies from production and their replacement with a single payment based on historical reference, is the most contentious element.
A majority of EU farm ministers, including Joe Walsh, have been opposed to full decoupling, but partial decoupling has gathered increasing support among member states. However, some 27 different variations have been suggested.
Mr Walsh said although there has been no consensus around any particular form of partial decoupling, some form of compromise is expected to emerge at the meeting which will be acceptable to the majority of member states.
The outcome will have major implications for Ireland’s 145,000 farmers and its multi-billion euro agri-food sector.
IFA president John Dillon said the Fischler proposals would result in the winding down of the CAP, with EU payments removed from production. IFA policy is that CAP supports must be linked to productive farming.
Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association president John Deegan again called on the Government to accept full decoupling and to make a case for hardship cases and both retiring and young farmers.
The IFA, ICMSA, ICOS, Macra na Feirme, the Irish Dairy Board, IBEC’s Dairy Industries Association and the National Dairy Council yesterday agreed a common position for the dairy sector.
