The future security of CAP income supports for older farmers remains unsure, as a definite consensus has yet to emerge among MEPs on Brussels’ hardline plans to block farmers who receive a state pension from drawing down CAP payments.

While the exact split of MEPs backing the proposal and those standing against is still unclear, it would appear that a majority are looking to block the pension plans, the European Parliament’s chief CAP negotiator has said. MEP Norbert Lins told the Irish Farmers Journal last Thursday that he intends on rejecting the European Commission’s controversial plan to block CAP payments for older farmers and instead is looking for an incentive-based approach to generational renewal in the post-2027 CAP.

“I don’t know where the majorities are at the agriculture committee and in the parliament,” Lins said of the pension proposal. “But I have the impression that there is a majority against a ban in payments for older farmers.

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“I myself, am always in favour of incentives. We should have a dedicated budget for younger farmers.”

Opposition

Midlands north west Fianna Fáil MEP Barry Cowen is among the Irish MEPs who have said that they are firmly opposed to the Commission’s plan to make farmers receiving a pension give up either their pension or CAP payments by 2032.

“It is the wrong lever to pull, it’s a cliff edge,” Cowen said.

“There are other ways to incentivise newer generations to take over the farm while supplementing and complementing that with payments for those that are exiting.”

Fellow midlands north west MEP Maria Walsh said that while the proposal to axe farm payments for those on retirement pensions may have their roots in successful farm pension schemes in countries like Austria, Finland and Germany, the Commission’s plan amounts to a “drive off the cliff”. “We cannot have a scheme that by 2032 or whatever year we are placing on it an ageing farmer is going to be cut off from their Single Farm Payment or any other scheme because that would just leave more people below the poverty line,” she stated.