The Government has called on the European Commission to ensure there is a “separate, strong and ring-fenced” CAP budget post-2027.

In its position paper on the next long-term EU budget, the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the Government said that the CAP remains a core priority and that the agri-food sector is a fundamentally important sector to the economy.

“The environmental, economic and social impacts and spill-over benefits of the CAP in underpinning jobs and communities across Europe and in strengthening our resilience to climate and food supply shocks cannot be overestimated,” the paper, seen by the Irish Farmers Journal, said.

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“Experiences over the last few years, from the COVID pandemic to the war in Ukraine to current trade tensions, have underlined the vital importance of this sector.”

Ireland is looking to retain the current two-pillar CAP.

“This must include a strong first pillar, as direct payments underpin the economic sustainability of European agriculture an area vital in safeguarding a fair and sufficient income to farmers,” the paper stated.

Government has approved the paper and Minister of State for European Affairs Thomas Byrne presented it to the European Budget Commissioner Piotr Serafin and his officials in Brussels last week. He also briefed Irish MEPs on the matter. Speculation in Brussels in recent weeks has suggested that the current ring-fenced CAP budget could be scrapped in favour of a different approach which would see member states decide how to spend their allocation of EU funds. The European Commission is poised to unveil its next EU budget proposals on 16 July.