Two Irish MEPs are among the signatories to a letter sent to the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen calling for the withdrawal of the proposed new CAP.

The letter comes from the Green/EFA political grouping of which Green Party MEPs Grace O’Sullivan and Ciarán Cuffe are aligned.

It states that both the European Parliament and Council adopted “disastrous positions” on the reform of the CAP that will see nearly €400bn “wasted” over the next seven years.

Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue, a member of the Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Green Party coalition, voted in favour of the Council’s position.

Letter

“Agriculture is a big contributor to climate change and biodiversity loss. The world is warming fast and we are losing birds, pollinators and ecosystems at an alarming rate. We cannot squander time nor money,” the letter says.

The Greens believe the 2018 proposals are “weak and outdated” and fail to align with new objectives set by the Green Deal, Farm to Fork strategy, and Biodiversity strategy.

It lists a 55% greenhouse gas reduction, 10% of agricultural land dedicated to nature, 50% pesticide and antibiotics reduction, and 20% less fertilisers among the goals.

Withdrawal

Along with not being in line with EU objectives, the Greens say the proposals threaten to misspend taxpayer money and fail to sufficiently protect citizens against climate change and biodiversity damage.

It asks President von der Leyen to bring forward a new CAP proposal “that is in line with the EU’s Green Deal” to bring the reform of the EU’s farming policy back “on the right track”.

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