Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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125. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline his priorities for the forthcoming EU budgetary negotiations, particularly with regard to the next Common Agricultural Policy. [33090/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The funding of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is a key element of the EU budget (Multi Annual Financial Framework, or MFF) from Ireland’s perspective. Proposals for the next MFF post-2027 will be made by the European Commission, negotiated by Finance Ministers at the ECOFIN Council, and ultimately agreed by Heads of State and Government at the European Council.

The European Commission is due to set out its proposals for the next MFF in mid-July. Commission proposals for the CAP post-2027 negotiations are likely to follow shortly after, with negotiations on both the future MFF and future CAP running in parallel.

As Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, I am working closely with the EU institutions and with my counterparts in other Member States to influence the negotiations for the next CAP. The CAP is central to the EU’s success in ensuring food security, supporting farm incomes and competitiveness, and developing rural areas.

I recently set out my four key priorities for the next CAP:

• A CAP that is more straightforward for farmers
• A more flexible and responsive CAP
• One which has an appropriate balance between all elements of sustainability
• And finally, an adequate and dedicated budget is needed for an effective CAP.