Given the substantial climate and environmental targets set by the EU and Ireland specifically for the agricultural sector, a cut of 10% in the CAP budget is not only disappointing but nonsensical, president of the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS) Jerry Long has said.The comments came in reaction to the agreement of a budget of €1.074tn and an additional €750bn COVID-19 recovery fund reached by EU leaders this morning.
Given the substantial climate and environmental targets set by the EU and Ireland specifically for the agricultural sector, a cut of 10% in the CAP budget is not only disappointing but nonsensical, president of the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS) Jerry Long has said.
The comments came in reaction to the agreement of a budget of €1.074tn and an additional €750bn COVID-19 recovery fund reached by EU leaders this morning.
Long explained: “The CAP is the main mechanism through which farmers are addressing climate change adaptation and mitigation. It is the chief driver of conversion to the sustainable practices and production being demanded of the primary production sector.
This will certainly have a negative impact on the ability of our rural economy to survive the current economic downturn
“Cutting funding only serves to limit the opportunities for farmers to act. This disparity will need to be addressed through national co-financing and well-targeted and effective CAP interventions that are made accessible to all farmers.”
Regrettable cut
ICOS has said the cut made to rural development funding within the COVID-19 recovery fund - down to €7.5bn from €15bn - is very regrettable.
“This will certainly have a negative impact on the ability of our rural economy to survive the current economic downturn and additional efforts will need to be made by the Irish Government to ensure our rural communities are not left behind,” Long warned.
Welcome outcome
ICOS has welcomed the creation of a new Brexit Adjustment Reserve, calling it an important recognition of the economic disruption that is still to come.
“We will now seek greater clarity on how the funding can be accessed by businesses to make the necessary supply chain adjustments and infrastructural investments to respond to our new relationship with the UK,” Long concluded.
Read more
CAP funds not consistent with EU plans – IFA
Government must make good on any CAP reduction - ICMSA
‘Inconceivable’ for farmers to deliver with decreased funding – ICSA
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: