An Irish MEP has said he will table amendments to the European Parliament's position on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) post-2027 to secure higher funding for young farmers.

Speaking in the parliament's agriculture committee, Midlands North-West MEP Ciaran Mullooly welcomed the key elements of a report published yesterday by German MEP Norbert Lins, outlining the position of the committee.

Despite welcoming the report, Mullooly said "the central question remains unanswered".

That question, the Independent Ireland MEP said, is "whether the next CAP will be backed by real money or simply recycled funding".

Mullooly told the committee that he planned to table amendments to yesterday's report in the areas of generational renewal and support for young farmers.

He said that this stage in the parliament's agriculture committee "is critical" as amendments tabled now "will help decide whether the next CAP delivers real support for farmers, or simply repackages existing money under a different heading".

Mullooly welcomed the emphasis placed on generational renewal in yesterday's report, but said it should "go a bit further" by increasing the amount earmarked for young farmers.

"I believe we should commit to 10% of the CAP budget to genuinely bring forward generational renewal," he said.

This would go beyond the European Commission's proposal of 6%, and beyond the proposal in yesterday's report of 8%.

Mullooly said that a 10% commitment would provide "practical help where young farmers need it most", citing issues like access to land, start-up capital, succession, housing and the chance to build a viable future in farming.

The MEP said that, the government here should top up, by up to 50%, any of that ringfenced young farmer funding that comes from the EU.

With Ireland taking over the presidency of the Council of the EU from tomorrow (July 1), Mullooly called on Ireland to use its role to push for a properly funded CAP and "a meaningful young farmer support package".

According to the MEP, the future of European farming depends on whether young people can see a viable future in agriculture.

"If Europe is serious about food security, rural life and family farming, then it has to be serious about funding the next generation. Warm words will not keep young farmers on the land. A serious CAP needs serious money behind it," he said.