13 member states reject fund CAP cut
At this week’s EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council, Ireland joined Finland, France, Greece, Portugal and Spain, supported by Croatia, Cyprus, Hungary, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Romania and Slovakia in warning that the proposed reduction of the CAP budget would threaten the viability of European farming, and requesting that the CAP budget is kept at the current EU-27 level.
Agriculture Minister Michael Creed told the Council, “A reduced budget means reduced ambition. This is the wrong signal to send our young people, and it is inconsistent with the increased ambition outlined in these proposals.”
Last week, Minister Creed said the definition of a “genuine farmer” in the new Common Agricultural Policy must be implementable in practice, and must not lead to undue administrative burden or delay for scheme applicants, or the Department of Agriculture.
Commenting in the Dáil on CAP reform proposals, he said the definition of a “genuine farmer” is one of the elements in the CAP reform that will present challenges, having been among the most difficult discussions during the reform in 2013, and member states will have differing perspectives on the definition.
He said Commissioner Hogan has already confirmed the definition will not exclude part-time farmers.
Minister Creed said, “I have already indicated that I am open to some level of capping and redistribution of direct payments.
“Ireland has already applied the maximum level of degressivity allowable under the current regulations for payments over €150,000.
The new proposals include a number of measures designed to move further in this direction, including an overall cap of €100,000, degressivity for payments above €60,000, a complementary redistributive income support, and convergence of payments towards a minimum of 75% of the average payment per hectare nationally.
He said, “I am also broadly supportive of the proposals to support young farmers and new entrants. The new proposals include a mandatory complementary income support for young farmers.”
“Now that the Commission proposals have been published, I have announced a further consultation to take place early in July.
“Ultimately the shape of the regulations will be determined by engagement with the Commission, Member States, and the European Parliament, but I am anxious that Irish citizens have an opportunity to have their voices heard in the process.”
Minister Creed was responding to questions in the Dáil from Fianna Fail agriculture spokesperson Charlie McConalogue,
