Two countries have vetoed the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2021 to 2027 over a number of political differences.
According to RTÉ, Poland and Hungary have blocked the EU’s €1.8 trillion budget, apparently over the EU’s plan to tie funding to issues around the rule of law.
The budget, which has been hammered out among EU leaders over the last several months, is due to include the MFF itself of just over €1 trillion, and the ‘Next Generation’ recovery fund (a response to the Covid-19 pandemic) of €750 billion.
The EU budget sets the amount of funding that will be allocated to various EU programmes and policy areas, including the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), over a seven-year period.
‘Significant support required’ for agriculture
In other EU-related news, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue told his European counterparts that “significant and ongoing support will be required” for the agriculture sector due to challenges facing the market.
Speaking at a meeting of EU agriculture and fisheries ministers yesterday (Monday, November 16), held via video-conference, Minister McConalogue said: “The agri-food sector is still significantly affected by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and is also facing into the eye of the storm as the end of the Brexit transition period looms.
“Significant and ongoing support will be required in order to keep supply chains operational and to prevent the collapse of a vital sector,” he added.