Independent Ireland MEP Ciaran Mullooly has said that the recent proposal from the European Commission to half the Promotion Budget and 2025 Annual Works Programme for agricultural produce is “simply unacceptable”.

The newly elected representative in the European Parliament said he will propose an amendment to the commission’s proposal at the next European Parliament Agriculture Committee meeting and seek support from other MEPs on the AGRI Committee.

The EU’s promotion budget for agricultural produce was established to help EU producers sell their farm products in an increasingly competitive global marketplace while delivering jobs and growth at home.

“This proposal must be rejected and when Council representatives meet in September there must be unanimous opposition to it,” said the Midlands Northwest MEP.

“These farmers are the backbones of rural communities and depend greatly on this co-funding from the EU to see their produce promoted internationally.”

The MEP also criticised the European Commission’s leadership for not being in line with the commission’s commitment to support EU family farmers.

Pictured: Ciaran Mullooly: proposed cut “must be opposed”.