The EU Agriculture Commissioner, Phil Hogan will launch his proposals for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) after 2020 today in Brussels.

It is thought this will be a plan to modify the present structure of CAP and will be launched at a time of considerable uncertainty in relation to the money that will be available to fund the CAP after the UK leave the EU in March 2019. Currently the CAP accounts for 38% of all EU budget expenditure.

Farmers and the environment

In the consultation ahead of the Commissioner preparing his Communication, the Brussels term for what would be described in the Dáil as a White Paper, there was a strong focus on farmers having to do more for the environment, though there was a recognition from a majority of respondents that farming need funding support.

Young farmers

The Commissioner has consistently advocated for the introduction of new blood in farming and this is expected to feature in his proposals.

The Communication will be launched today in Brussels at 11am and the Irish Farmers Journal will bring details of what is planned plus an exclusive interview with Commissioner Hogan in this week’s Irish Farmers Journal.

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