Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

515. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a recent technical note by the European Parliament’s agriculture committee, which outlined the way in which farmers in the EU could see direct payment cuts of more than €3 billion a year as a result of Brexit; the steps being taken at EU level to ensure future CAP funding will be safeguarded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8074/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is expected that the UK's exit from the EU will reduce the overall EU budget by between 5 and 10%.  This will undoubtedly have implications for future spending decisions in what is already a very tight budgetary framework. Notwithstanding this, the amount of CAP funding per Member State is fixed until 2020 under Regulations of the Council and European Parliament.  Any changes to the current figures will require a co-decided amendment of those Regulations.

The CAP accounts for some 37% of the EU budget, and there has been ongoing pressure from some Member States to reduce this proportion and to divert EU spending to newer policy issues such as migration, external action and development cooperation. The size and distribution of the future CAP budget will be determined as part of the process for agreeing the next EU multiannual financial framework (MFF) for the post 2020 period, discussions on which are due to commence later this year. One of the key challenges we see is maintaining a strong CAP budget in the post 2020 period.

The future of CAP is an issue of enormous importance for the agriculture sector in Ireland and across Europe. The CAP has evolved considerably and very effectively in recent years, in response to changing market, consumer and environmental demands.  It also plays a central role in delivering the smart, sustainable and inclusive growth sought under the Europe 2020 strategy.

It is important that the CAP continues to evolve in a way that supports the achievement of European priorities, particularly in the context of securing a strong CAP budget for the post 2020 period.  This can only be achieved by reinforcing the relevance and effectiveness of the policy in helping to achieve broader societal goals.  This is something that I strongly believe in and will actively pursue at Council level as the debate on the future CAP and its budget intensifies over the coming months.