Budget Discussions and CAP Central to Meeting Between Taoiseach & German Chancellor

IFA President Francie Gorman said the meeting in Dublin this week between our Taoiseach Micheál Martin and the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was very timely.

The meeting took place as part of Ireland holding the EU Presidency until the end of the year, with the budget being one of the key items on the agenda.

“Amongst the relevant areas of discussion such as competitiveness and EU enlargement, we would expect they discuss the European budget (MFF) and the importance of Member State contributions to a fully-financed CAP because the current proposals represent a cut of over 20%. This is not sustainable for farmers.”

The President of the German farm group DBV Joachim Rukwied said the meeting between Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin comes at a crucial moment for the future of European agriculture.

“It is precisely in times of geopolitical uncertainty that Member States must send a clear signal in favour of a strong Common Agricultural Policy. Without security of food supply, there can be no European security. That is why we need a multiannual financial framework with an independent, reliable and earmarked agricultural budget of €500bn. A strong CAP is an investment in Europe’s security, resilience and competitiveness.”