IFA say No to any British reopening of CAP talks
British Prime Minister Tony Blair has indicated that he is willing to negotiate on his country’s EU contributions rebate if talks on the CAP are re-opened. However, France has rejected new talks on that reform.
IFA president John Dillon said Ireland accepted the 2003 CAP deal including decoupling of direct payments on the basis of budget security at least until 2013.
He said the Taoiseach must tell Tony Blair that this issue is non-negotiable. In fact, some additional funding is required to extend CAP direct payments to Romania and Bulgaria when they qualify for EU membership.
“It would be totally unacceptable to ask farmers in Ireland and other existing member states to carry the cost of future EU enlargement.”
Mr Dillon called on the Taoiseach to make every effort with his fellow heads of Government in the lead-up to the EU summit meeting to protect Ireland’s CAP and rural development funding.
ICSA president Malcolm Thompson said the Government must not be found wanting in relation to the EU budget row this week.
“Ireland’s vital national interest of a properly funded CAP cannot be undermined by a row over the British rebate,” he said. “Ireland must stand resolutely against Prime Minister Blair’s suggestion that CAP spending levels should be undermined.”
Mr Thompson said Ireland must push for a commitment for EU spending levels to be set at 1.14% of GNI (Gross National Income).
“This is vital to ensure that the CAP reform deal agreed in 2003 can be delivered on. It is also vital to ensure that there is adequate funding to cover the accession of Bulgaria and Romania.
“Otherwise, it is likely that the levels of support agreed under decoupling will be reneged on. This would surely undermine farmer confidence in the whole European project.”
Ireland East MEP Mairead McGuinness said any attempt to re-open the CAP must be fiercely resisted by the Taoiseach.
