After a three-day trilogue process, talks on the new seven-year CAP programme have finished without agreement.
Discussions continued into the early hours of this morning (Friday, May 28th, 2021).
Minister Charlie McConalogue confirmed that more discussions will take place this morning.
In a brief statement, he said: “After two long nights and two long days, talks on the new CAP finished up without agreement.”
He said the “council finished without agreement and will have to wait until the next time the council recommences”.
“I worked very hard to try and get an agreement, but it had to be one that worked for Ireland, Irish farmers, and for our country and importantly, that gave us the flexibility to ensure the next CAP programme would be one that we can actually have significant capacity to influence at national level and ensure that it works for our national agricultural model.”
“There is more work involved in this. There is the capacity still now in the days and weeks ahead to ensure that there is a CAP delivered which works for Ireland and Irish farmers and ensures that we have the flexibility to put in place schemes that put farmers and family farm incomes at the centre for the years ahead.”
‘Farmer-friendly, fair and flexible’
Ahead of the talks, Minister McConalogue said his key focus is on delivering a CAP that is “farmer-friendly, fair and flexible for our farm families”.
He called for a CAP that can work for Irish farmers and also ensures that we have the flexibility to be “able to make decisions without their own national CAP plan that really works for our farmers and that set a good pathway for the next seven years that will see farmers fully supported in relation to the work that they do carrying out food production”.
“That will see farmers fully funded in terms of any new environmental measures that they will be asked to undertake in terms of ensuring that there is an income there that reflects the work that farmers can do.”
“Also, ultimately to ensure that the CAP for the next seven years will be one which sees Irish agriculture thrive, Irish family farm incomes sustained and Irish farm families supported in the tremendous work that they do,” he concluded.
Good morning
After two long nights and two long days, talks on the new CAP finished up just now without agreement.
I fought very hard for a deal for Irish farmers but we have to make sure it is one that works for our farm families and our country. pic.twitter.com/N5FlHnyFkW
— Charlie McConalogue (@McConalogue) May 28, 2021
