Demands to increase the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) budget have been made by Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed after a meeting in Luxembourg today.

Speaking to an assembled meeting of the Council of Agriculture & Fisheries Ministers, Creed stated: “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.”

1.26pm bilateral meeting with new Hungarian Minister Istvan Nagy who is attending his first #AgriFish Council. CAP & Brexit up for discussion pic.twitter.com/GDmdqhdOvD

— Michael Creed TD (@creedcnw) June 18, 2018

Farm organisations in Ireland have also called for an increase in CAP funding. However, Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan has said that cuts to the CAP budget have been caused by Brexit.

The Commissioner has stated that it is up to individual member states to fill the €12bn gap in funding left by the United Kingdom’s withdrawal.

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Creed repeats call for increase to CAP budget

Proposed cuts of 5% to the budget have been dismissed by the Minister.