Watch: European farm leaders unite in Dublin to defend CAP funding
European farm leaders came together in Dublin today (Friday, November 13) to sound the alarm over proposed EU budget cuts and what they could mean for farmers across Ireland and Europe.
The rally, organised by the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA), shone a spotlight on the European Commission’s proposed cuts to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
European farming leaders have previously warned that the proposed cuts would be "simply unbearable" for farmers and agricultural cooperatives across the EU.
Today COPA president Massimiliano Giansanti, COGECA president Lennart Nilsson, French and Spanish farm representatives, and COPA vice-president Jan Dolezal of the Czech Republic and IFA president, Francie Gorman, were among those making their voices heard.
The rally took place just minutes away from the European Political Community summit, where EU leaders were discussing the future of Europe under the theme 'Europe – Strong, Secure and Connected'.
At the heart of farmers' concerns is the proposed 2028–2034 EU budget, which could see CAP funding slashed by 24% – falling from €387 billion to €300 billion.
For Irish agriculture this could translate into a potential loss in the region of €2.5 billion in lost funding.
Protect CAP
Speaking at the rally Jean Baptiste Boucher, communications and mobillisation director at Copa-Cogeca, focused on how essential CAP payments are for European farmers.
Boucher said he wanted to ensure that the message got across to political leaders that CAP is worth defending.
He said: "CAP has been protecting Europe for more than 60 years and we are also the first line of defence of Europe.
"The ability to feed 450 million Europeans sustainably and at affordable price is thanks to the farmer this is why we are defending CAP through this campaign."
According to Boucher, the next few weeks are imperative for the protection of CAP.
Meanwhile Lennart Nilsson, president of COGECA, also said that a well-funded and well-functioning cap is needed to promote the European farming sector.
According to the president, the rally in Dublin was a "timely occasion" as he also stressed that European farmers "don't want to see any cuts to CAP".
Nilsson told Agriland: "It's also a very strong message to European top decision makers to listen to the farmers and listen to their co-operatives and the needs we have."
Nilsson said that the structure of CAP is just as important as its funding.
"It's important that the money goes to active farming to support investments both for farmers and cooperatives."
