Current national Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) funding levels must be maintained post-Brexit, according to IFA President Joe Healy.
Speaking at a recent Brexit briefing in Ballina, he said that the financial hole that will be created in the EU’s finances, once Brexit takes effect, must not be allowed to impact on future CAP budgets at a national level.
He was responding to comments made by EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan, who spoke at the same meeting, to the effect that Britain’s departure from the EU could cause a funding problem for the CAP moving forward.
According to the Commissioner, cuts in agricultural support levels are inevitable unless all the remaining EU member states agree to increases in national funding levels or member states act unilaterally to bolster farm support budgets.
In his response, Healy said that the Irish Government must play its part, along with the other EU-26 member states, to make up for the shortfall.
All EU Member States giving a little bit more is the obvious way forward.
The IFA President highlighted the value of the CAP in delivering affordable food to consumers across Europe.
“The CAP has helped deliver high quality food at extremely competitive prices for many years,” he said.
“And the reality is that farmers must be compensated accordingly for the investment which they continue to make in their businesses. I fully expect the EU Commission to recognise this reality.”
It has been estimated that a net deficit of €3 billion will be created in Europe’s CAP budget, once Brexit becomes a reality. But Healy firmly believes this shortfall can be made up, if the EU-27 work together.
“This is a relatively small figure in the context of the EU’s overall budget,” he said.
“If EU solidarity means anything, then the budget shortfall must be made good so that farmers are not hit with CAP cuts when the UK leaves.”