Parliament backs €433bn CAP envelope in budget vote
MEP Nina Carberry said this vote had been the strongest signal to date that the European Parliament was responding to calls to support farmers facing growing pressures.
The European Parliament voted in favour of ringfencing at least €433bn for agriculture in the 2028-34 EU budget.
CAP negotiator in the European Parliament’s Budget Committee MEP Nina Carberry has welcomed the news of the significant vote to ringfence the billions for agriculture.
The committee, of which Ms Carberry is the only Irish member, has backed a clear position in favour of an extra €139bn for farm policy in current prices compared to the commission’s cuts.
Ms Carberry said this vote had been the strongest signal to date that the European Parliament was responding to calls to support farmers facing growing pressures.
“This is a major milestone in the budget negotiations. We are sending a clear message that food security, farm incomes and rural communities must remain at the centre of the next EU budget,” she said.
The Midlands North-West MEP also welcomed the committee’s support for maintaining the CAP as a distinct, two-pillar structure for direct payments and rural development.
She said parliament was right to push for stronger ringfencing, including support for generational renewal and agri-environmental schemes.
“The next CAP must continue to support farm families on the ground, but it must also help bring a new generation into farming and protect rural communities. That is why targeted ringfencing matters, including for local development initiatives such as LEADER.”
Ms Carberry said the vote increased pressure on the 27 EU member states ahead of the next phase of negotiations under the Cyprus presidency, which will be presenting an update to the European Council on April 17.
