CAP reforms signal danger of 'slide into irrelevance'
The EU Commission’s CAP reform proposals have been branded a "speeded-up timetable for the EU’s withdrawal of direct supports" to primary food production, by the ICMSA.
President of ICMSA, Denis Drennan, asserted as an "indisputable fact" that farmers will suffer losses under the proposals.
He predicted that this week's announcements would result in the fall in both the high standard and sustainable food production within the EU and a rise food prices across the EU.
“It’s just simple logic: as the direct supports for farmers fall, they will have to raise prices as they sell along the chain with a resulting impact at the point of sale to the consumer.
"Alternatively, farming and primary food production across the EU will crash and be replaced by sub-standard imports that are produced off unsustainable and environmentally destructive systems. The EU will also lose any ability to feed itself from within its own areas; we will lose food security.
"Some people might think this is alarmist, but those very same people should take a close look at developments in EU agriculture, their view will certainly change when they do so”, said Mr. Drennan.
The ICMSA President said that had CAP not kept pace with inflation.
“CAP and EU agriculture policy was already teetering on the brink of credibility as evidenced by last week’s fiasco on Nitrates and the Habitats Directive. Today’s announcement simply underlines the slide into irrelevance. The EU can no longer even pretend to be an asset to farmers; it’s an obstacle, a negative, that causes more problems than it provides solutions,” continued Mr Drennan.
Mr Drennan said it was incumbent on the EU Commission to spell out the financial loss under its proposals for a typical Irish dairy or livestock farmer.
“The Taoiseach must immediately signal Ireland’s rejection of these proposals and all our MEPS must do the same. We need a national unified rejection of these proposals led by our Taoiseach,” said Mr. Drennan.
Long negotiating process
Responding to the EU Commission's proposals, the Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon tried to assure farmers that while these are "very significant proposals", they would negotiate through these "considerable reforms", noting that Ireland will hold the EU Presidency in the second half of 2026.
“The Commission proposals for new CAP structures in a new MFF architecture will require careful analysis. This seems like a very big change, but in fact this announcement marks the starting point in a long negotiating process. I will continue to work very closely with Commissioner Hansen, the European Parliament and my EU counterparts to ensure that the end result delivers the best possible outcome for Irish farmers and the rural communities in which they live.”