An Irish MEP has said that he was left "very impressed" with comments from French President Emmanuel Macron on the allocation for agriculture in the next EU budget.

Macron met with a number of MEPs from the Renew Europe group of the European Parliament, which his party is a member of.

Independent Ireland is also part of that group, and for that reason Midlands-North West MEP Ciaran Mullooly was part of the meeting.

Mullooly welcomed what he called a "significant intervention from French President Emmanuel Macron supporting the protection of agriculture funding in the EU’s next Multiannual Financial Framework".

The Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) is the EU's seven-year budget, and the process of agreeing the next one - and with it the funding for next CAP - is currently underway.

Following the meeting, the Irish MEP said he raised his concerns with the French president over the proposed CAP budget for 2028-2034, which is some 20% less than what was allocated for the current CAP.

According to Mullooly, Macron agreed with the former's view that funding for European farmers should be protected.

Mullooly said the French president told him that funding for a number of areas, including agriculture, should be preserved.

The Independent Ireland MEP said that he was "very impressed with the attitude of the French president to this situation ahead of the MFF budget decision".

"Macron spoke many times of the need to further invest in agriculture and other key areas of concern to the European Union at the moment, and he made it clear that he was in favour of the Union extending its borrowing if necessary to meet the demand," Mullooly added.

He said this "sends an important signal" as discussions on the EU budget intensify.

"Food security is a fundamental principle of the European Union. We must protect our capacity to produce high-quality European food, support our family farms, and do so in an environmentally sustainable manner," he said.

"President Macron’s statement strengthens our campaign to ensure agriculture is not sacrificed to pay for other priorities in the next EU budget," Mullooly added.

Brittany Ferries

The MEP also raised the issue of Brittany Ferries with French government officials today (Wednesday, September 9).

According to Mullooly, those officials said the French government would engage with the ferry operator on its decision to cease transporting livestock.

This follows a meeting between Mullooly and Brittany Ferries management on Monday (September 7).

Following that meeting, the Irish MEP said: "I am formally requesting the chairman and board of Brittany Ferries to recognise the importance of this service to Irish agriculture and reconsider their decision to withdraw from the transportation of Irish livestock."

According to Mullooly, livestock transport is "a lucrative business with plenty of growth potential into the future".

The MEP said he was satisfied that his concerns were taken onboard; however, Brittany Ferries did not commit to any particular course of action on this issue.

Mullooly also said that he will soon meet with British authorities in relation to protests by animal welfare activists at Portsmouth Port in England, which are understood to be behind Brittany Ferries' decision to cease trading livestock.

"If illegal protest activity, intimidation or interference with legitimate trade is contributing to the withdrawal of services, then that is an issue which cannot simply be ignored," he said.

"Legitimate and lawful trade between Ireland, Britain, France and the wider European Union must be protected," Mullooly added.