Protests over CAP overhaul to get underway today
Launched in 1962, the EU's CAP is a partnership between agriculture and society, and between Europe and its farmers.
It aims to:
Support farmers and improve agricultural productivity, ensuring a stable supply of affordable food;
Safeguard European Union farmers to make a reasonable living;
Help tackle climate change and the sustainable management of natural resources;
Maintain rural areas and landscapes across the EU;
Keep the rural economy alive by promoting jobs in farming, agri-food industries and associated sectors.
The CAP is a common policy for all EU countries and is managed and funded at European level from the resources of the EU's budget.
The European Commission is understood to be planning a radical overhaul to the EU budget – the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) – as part of which the commission is planning to merge its various funding programmes into a smaller number of funds, which would be allocated all together to member states.
Member states would then outline how they plan to use the funding, which the commission would then approve.
This could not only see the merging of funding for both pillars of CAP, but potentially also the end of ringfenced funding for CAP.
Today, the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) alongside the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS) will stage a 'flash protest' at the European Commission offices in Dublin city.
The IFA said it wants to 'warn the commission against stripping away the CAP budget in favour of a single fund approach'.
The Dublin protest will coincide with other protests being organised across Europe by other farm organisations.
Copa Cogeca, the umbrella organisation representing farmers and agricultural cooperatives, confirmed that the 'pan-European flash action' will take place in Brussels.
The organisation said it will support the protest which is being organised by Belgian national farmers' organisations, FWA/UAW and BoerenBond.
The demonstration coincides with the Annual EU Budget Conference 2025 where the next long-term union budget will be discussed.
Agriland will bring you all the latest from the protest which gets underway at 9.30a.m Dublin today.
CAP
Meanwhile, the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) has called for the upcoming CAP programme to ensure the family farm model is protected while delivering fair and achievable outcomes for its farmers.
INHFA president Vincent Roddy has outlined the importance of CAP support, especially for suckler, beef and sheep farmers where income volatility and low margins have seen a continued decline in livestock numbers and farmers.
Roddy stressed: 'It is vital there is a ring-fenced CAP budget that recognises the critical role of our farmers in terms of food production, landscape management and supporting our rural communities.
'Any new CAP programme must promote sustainable agricultural practices that are carried out on our extensive grazing model that benefits both production and the environment.'
He also added that the new CAP needs to ensure farming is more attractive for the next generation.
'The [CAP] budget must recognise the increased demands that have been made on farmers and also, restrictions that continue to reduce output and income,' Roddy continued.
The INHFA president stressed the need to continue with the convergence of payments while also increasing payments on the first 30ha through a more ambitious Complementary Redistribution of Income Support for Sustainability (CRISS) model.
'This will help protect the smaller holdings dominated by suckler and sheep farmers and the wider rural communities that are so dependent on these sectors,' he explained.
With regard to proposals around conditionality, the INHFA has said that the terms and conditions must include a satisfactory yellow card system that gives farmers a chance to address any breach of the conditions.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The 42
22 minutes ago
- The 42
A new era for The League of Millionaires?
Free Podcast A new era for The League of Millionaires? David Sneyd and Shane Keegan take a deep dive into the League of Ireland's rising wages and increased European bonuses, before turning their attention to Evan Ferguson and Roma.
The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Revolut confirm new Irish jobs amid major recruitment drive for over 400 roles across several sectors
REVOLUT is set to hire a number Irish employees as part of a new recruitment campaign. The company aims create over 400 new jobs in Western Europe, ahead of plans to establish a new headquarters in Paris. The list of countries the bank is targeting includes Ireland, The roles will primarily encompass risk management, compliance, cyber security and other critical roles. At least 200 of the The company expects to have over 1,500 employees in Western MOST READ IN IRISH NEWS CEO of Revolut Western Europe, Béatrice Cossa-Dumurgier, commented: "We're already hard at work building our new Western Europe headquarters in Paris — and that comes with a major hiring push across the region. "From France to Spain, Italy, Germany, Portugal, and Ireland, we plan to hire over 400 people by 2029 to strengthen our local operations." She added: "Western Europe is home to a massive pool of talent, and we intend to make the most of it — attracting top professionals eager to shape the future of banking and build the next generation of financial services." Founded in 2015, Revolut began in the UK as a small fintech offering Most read in Irish News The company now boasts more than 60 million customers and 13,000 employees worldwide. Now it is looking to expand its operations in an effort to "serve customers in the region". Nearly all staff axed as major Scots manufacturer goes bust Revolut says this 'ramp-up' will begin with around 80 new hires in the first year and scale over 400 direct roles by the end of the decade. And that these efforts are taking place in parallel with the company's ongoing application for a banking licence in France. Currently, the company is set to invest around €1 billion in France over the next three years. The move represents a significant commitment by the company to its future business and operations on the continent, saying it shows "confidence in both France and Europe's business environment" and that it "complements Revolut's existing European HQ in Lithuania". 1 The company will be hiring employees from Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Spain, for mostly risk management, compliance, and cyber security roles Credit: Revolut
RTÉ News
4 hours ago
- RTÉ News
EU explores retaliation plans as prospect of US tariff deal fades
The European Union is exploring a broader set of possible counter-measures against the United States as prospects for an acceptable trade agreement with Washington fade, according to EU diplomats. An increasing number of EU members, including Germany, are now considering using wide-ranging "anti-coercion" measures which would let the bloc target US services and other sectors in the absence of a deal, diplomats say. The European Commission, which negotiates trade agreements on behalf of the 27-member bloc, had appeared on course for an agreement in which the EU would still have faced a 10% US tariff on most of its exports, with some concessions. Hopes now seem dashed after President Donald Trump's threat to impose a 30% tariff by 1 August, which follows talks between EU Trade Commissioner Maros Šefčovič and US counterparts in Washington last week. Mr Šefčovič, who has said a 30% tariff would "practically prohibit" transatlantic trade, delivered a sobering report on the current state of play to EU envoys on Friday, diplomats told Reuters. US counterparts had come up with diverging solutions, including a baseline rate that could be well above 10%, the EU diplomats added. "Each interlocutor seemed to have different ideas. No one can tell what would actually fly with Trump," one diplomat said. Prospects of easing or removing 50% US tariffs on steel and aluminium and 25% on cars and car parts appear limited. 'Nuclear option' Washington has also rejected the EU's demand for a "standstill" arrangement, whereby no further tariffs would be imposed after a deal is struck. The rationale, according to diplomats, is that Mr Trump's hands cannot be tied on national security, the basis of Section 232 trade investigations into pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and timber. Accordingly, the mood has pivoted among EU countries, EU diplomats have said, and they are more ready to react, even though a negotiated solution is their preferred option. The EU has one package of tariffs on €21bn of US goods that is currently suspended until 6 August. The bloc must still decide on a further set of counter measures on €72bn of US exports. Discussions have also increased on using the EU's wide-ranging "anti-coercion" instrument (ACI) that allows the bloc to retaliate against third countries that put economic pressure on member states to change their policies. Brought in more with China in mind, it would allow the bloc to target US services, limit US companies' access to public procurement or financial services markets or restrict US investment. France has consistently advocated for using the ACI, but others have baulked at what some see as a nuclear option. Mr Trump has warned that he will retaliate if other countries take action against the United States. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the ACI was created for extraordinary situations, adding: "we are not there yet." The Commission would need a qualified majority of 15 countries making up 65% of the EU population to invoke it. It would not do so unless it was confident of passing it, but there are now growing signs of support building, with Germany among the countries saying it should be considered, EU diplomats have said.
