A LARGE group of IFA representatives from Galway and across the western province took part in a ‘flash action’ protest at the EU Commission office in Dublin this week aimed at highlighting threats to future CAP [Common Agricultural Policy] policies.

The Galway IFA group, led by County Chair, Stephen Canavan, also included National Council Delegate, John Finn; National Farm Family Rep, Teresa Roche; and Anne Mitchell, Galway Farm Family Rep.

Fears are growing among farming groups across the EU that proposals on the new CAP being formulated by the Commission – based on a ‘single fund’ approach – would spell ‘the beginning of the end of CAP’ as we now know it.

The changing world political and military landscape – with Europe now needing to massively increase defence budgets in the wake of the Russian attack on Ukraine and the new defence policies of US President Donald Trump – could now put major downward pressure on other sectors of EU budget spending, including agriculture.

Tuesday morning’s protest outside the EU Commission Office in Dublin was part of a European morning of action aimed at highlighting potentially damaging changes to future CAP policies and was organised by the COPA-COGECA – the ‘united voice of farmers and co-ops’ across the EU.

Stephen Canavan told the Farming Tribune that there were real fears concerning proposals being mooted by the Commission of a ‘single-fund approach’ being taken as regards future CAP programmes which would be very bad news for farmers in Ireland and across Europe.

“Even as things stand, with the impact of inflation and cuts over the years, it is estimated that the CAP return to farmers in real terms is only 25% of what it was, as compared to 2005. We want to make the Commission, our Government and the EU aware that food security in the times we live was never more important. Any decline in food production across the EU should be very concerning for everybody,” said Stephen Canavan.

According to the IFA at national level, the EU Commission is moving towards a policy of stripping away the CAP budget in favour of ‘a single-fund approach’ under what is known as the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).

Tuesday mornings’ protests across Europe coincided with an EU Budget Conference in Brussels – the protest actions were timed to happen while this meeting was under way.

IFA President, Francie Gorman, in his capacity as Vice-President of COPA, attended the Brussels protest which he said was aimed at sending a strong message emphasising that ‘the funding model and structure of the CAP is critical for the development of the farming and food sector in Ireland’.

“Everybody is aware that the geopolitical landscape is changing, but food security has to remain at the core of what the Commission does.

“All the signs are that the Commission is still hell-bent on a single fund structure, which if approved, would be the beginning of the end of CAP as we know it. This approach will undermine the security that CAP brings to millions of farm families around Europe,” said Francie Gorman.

IFA is the Irish member of COPA – the European farmers representative body – while ICOS [the Irish Co-Operative Organisation Society], is the Irish members of COGECA, the European co-operatives representative body.

President of ICOS Edward Carr said CAP was the foundation of a sustainable and competitive farming and agri-food sector in Ireland and Europe, ‘playing a vital role in maintaining farm incomes, supporting rural communities and driving progress on climate and environmental goals across the EU’.

Pictured: Stephen Canavan: Real concerns over CAP moves.