John Curran
Question:535. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the level of funding to be provided for CAP post-2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31652/18]
View answerThursday, 12 July 2018
Questions (535, 536)
John Curran
Question:536. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the likely timescale for finalising the CAP budget post-2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31653/18]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 535 and 536 together.
The European Commission has proposed, as part of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027, that funding for the Common Agricultural Policy should be set at €365 billion. This would indicate a cut of around 5% for the next MFF period of 2021 - 2027.
The Multiannual Financial Framework sets the budgetary ceilings for the next seven years across a range of headings. The MFF concerns the entire EU budget and the CAP proposals are one element. Setting the EU budget is a challenging task which requires unanimous agreement and in the light of the departure of the UK from the European Union, net contributions to the EU budget will be reduced by approximately €12 billion which will make this more challenging. Therefore agreeing an MFF which maintains current levels of CAP funding will be challenging.
Nonetheless it should be noted that the proposal published by the European Commission is an initial MFF position. The final outcome will be determined by negotiations by Finance Ministers at EU level over the coming year. Achieving Ireland’s priorities in these negotiations will be a key issue for the Government.
I believe that European agriculture policies have delivered for Irish farmers and consumers and it is important that support continues to be provided to these programmes. These high standards, and the family farm model, are part of the fabric of European values. EU citizens have shown that they support this model. A strong CAP is a prerequisite if these objectives, which are in the best interests of all citizens, are to be achieved.
I have been working to build consensus among my agriculture colleagues across the European Union to support a reversal of the cuts proposed to the CAP budget. Recently in Madrid, I agreed a Memorandum with five of my European colleagues, seeking to maintain CAP funding for the period 2021-2027 at current EU 27 levels. Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal, Greece and Finland all signed the Memorandum. Support has grown for this position and I understand that up to twenty Member States have expressed support for this position.
I would like to reassure the deputy that I will continue to fight for a strong CAP budget in the upcoming negotiations.