Securing a well-funded, flexible, and workable Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is a top priority for Ireland's EU Council Presidency.

Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine, Martin Heydon, stressed the importance of make progress on agreeing a partial negotiating position (partial general approach) on the post-2027 regulation for the common agricultural policy, in the context of the EU’s next long-term budget.

Speaking from Luxembourg, as chair of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting today, October 26, he said trade would also be discussed such as expanding and growing the leverage of EU trade deals and the opportunities these provide for farmers and fishermen.

In addition, fisheries ministers will also discuss fishing opportunities in the Baltic Sea for 2027.

"[It is] really important that we agree [on] sustainable fishing quotas with the Baltic states," he said.

Commonality

According to Minister Heydon, negotiations were about reaching a consensus to protect the commonality of CAP, but also to ensure that there was sufficient flexibility to recognise "we farm differently in different member states".

He stressed that it was very important to achieve an agreed Council position.

"[However,] that is not in itself an endpoint, [but] would then allow us to move to the next phase of negotiations with the [European] Parliament and [European] Commission."

According to a statement by the European Commission, such an agreed position "would aim to provide a simpler and more flexible framework, seeking to secure farmers’ incomes, improve the targeting and fairness of payments, and strengthen generational renewal".

"At the same time, the proposed rules aim to support risk management and resilience, and promote a better balance between common rules and incentives for climate, environment and animal welfare.

"The negotiating position would be 'partial' because it would exclude financial and horizontal issues, which are currently being discussed as part of the negotiations on the overall multiannual financial framework covering the period 2028 to 2034," the statement explained.