Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 July 2020
956. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funds his Department expects to receive based on the agreement of the European Council from the EU MFF in respect of pillar 1 in each year of the next MFF in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20255/20]
View answer958. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funds his Department expects to receive based on the agreement of the European Council from the EU MFF in respect of pillar 2 in each year of the next MFF in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20257/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 956 and 958 together.
Ireland’s key objective throughout the negotiations on the post-2020 EU budget has been the retention of a sufficient budget for CAP post-2020.
Notwithstanding the challenging negotiations, the overall outcome is a positive one. Ireland has succeeded in the objective to maintain the CAP budget for the 2021-2027 period for the farming sector and rural development. The Commission's original proposal for the CAP included a 15% cut in rural development expenditure and a 4% cut in direct payments. These planned cuts have now been reversed.
The negotiation of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) took place in constant 2018 prices. The CAP 2021-2027 will be €343.944 billion including the allocation of €7.5 billion for the EU Next Generation Fund. There are a number of elements to the overall package and a detailed examination is ongoing.
CAP payments made to farmers will be spent in current prices which will bring this funding to some €386 billion, in comparison to €375 billion for the current CAP allocations for the EU 27 and in comparison to the Commission Proposal which would have resulted in a CAP budget of €365 billion. Annual allocations by Member State have not yet been published by the Commission.
The proposal for the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework launched in 2018 and negotiations have been ongoing since that time. This agreement at European Council level brings this process another step forward. The final stage will be agreement with the European Parliament which is hoped to be reached in October 2020. The Government’s position has always been that a strong and properly funded CAP is a fundamental requirement if we are to continue to support the sector. I therefore welcome this agreement which represents a positive outcome for Ireland.
