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‘Farmers are going to suffer losses' under proposed CAP changes
Farmers are 'going to suffer losses' under the European Commission's plans for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in the next long term EU budget, according to the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association (ICMSA).
The commission unveiled its plans for CAP as its proposals for the next Multi-annual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028 to 2034 were detailed to the European Parliament's budget committee today (Wednesday, July 16).
According to Denis Drennan, president of the ICMSA, the Commission's CAP plans represent a speeded-up timetable for the EU's withdrawal of direct supports to farming and primary food production.
Drennan also believes that the European Commission's CAP plans have the potential to drive food prices up across the EU and drive down the 'high standard and sustainable food production within the EU.
'It's not even difficult to predict the disaster that will follow this announcement, it's just simple logic.
'As the direct supports for farmers fall, they will have to raise prices as they sell along the chain with a resulting impact at the point of sale to the consumer,' he added.
CAP
The president of the ICMSA also believes that questions have to be asked about the EU's ability 'to feed itself' if its CAP plans go ahead.
'Some people might think this is alarmist, but those very same people should take a close look at developments in EU agriculture, their view will certainly change when they do so,' Drennan added.
He said although CAP had failed to pace with inflation, the impact of potential reductions to individual payments as a result of the commission's proposals would mean 'cuts will be piled on cuts'.
'We've had many promises from the Commission on CAP on support and simplification.
'None have been kept. Today's announcement simply underlines the slide into irrelevance. The EU can no longer even pretend to be an asset to farmers, it's an obstacle, a negative, that causes more problems than it provides solutions,' Drennan said.
He is now calling on the Taoiseach to 'immediately signal Ireland's rejection' of the Commission's proposals and has urged Irish MEPS to do the same.
