Fianna Fáíl MEP Billy Kelleher has questioned whether the Commission’s draft proposals are a “negotiating tactic” or measures that could “cause havoc among farm families”.

His comments refer to draft proposals that would see a merging of future CAP funding with separate funding streams into a larger national and regional partnership fund.

“Obviously all we have seen to date is a leaked copy of the Commission, and it is subject to change before publication. However, as currently constructed it’s deeply worrying from an Irish point of view.

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“Perhaps it’s a negotiating tactic to force member states to increase their national contributions or to agree on new own resources,” Kelleher said.

Funding

The Ireland South MEP also raised concerns that overall funding for agriculture will be reduced.

“The ending of the dual-pillar model is concerning. Merging direct payments and environmental schemes is a major change, as is the moving of rural development schemes out of CAP,” he said.

“Crucially, the leak didn’t include the financial envelope being proposed. If it resembles the rumoured 20-25% cut in overall funding, it will cause havoc among farm families in Ireland and across the union.”