Brendan Smith
Question:50. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress to date in discussions at EU level in relation to the need to ensure adequate funding for CAP post 2027. [70975/26]
View answerThursday, 8 October 2026
Questions (50)
Written answers
Since the European Commission published its proposals for the post-2027 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in July 2025, I have engaged directly with my EU counterparts on the issue through bilateral meetings and at meetings of the Agriculture and Fisheries (AGRIFISH) Council of Ministers.
Since Ireland assumed the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in July 2026, I have continued this engagement, with a particular focus on progressing the negotiations and building consensus among Member States. In September, Ireland hosted an informal meeting of EU Agriculture Ministers, which provided Ministers with an opportunity to have a broader discussion on the future CAP and the issues arising in the negotiations.
At the AGRIFISH Council meeting on 28 September, Ministers took stock of the progress made and provided further political guidance on the outstanding issues. Ministers welcomed the progress achieved to date and broadly supported the Irish Presidency’s approach to advancing the negotiations. The Presidency is now working with Member States and the European Commission to resolve the remaining issues, with the objective of reaching a Partial General Approach on the CAP Regulation at the AGRIFISH Council meeting on 26–27 October 2026.
Regarding the CAP budget, discussions on the budget for the post-2027 period form part of the negotiations on the broader Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028–2034. The MFF is negotiated by Finance Ministers and will ultimately be agreed by Heads of State and Government at the European Council. The Department of Finance and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are the lead Departments in these negotiations, in close consultation with my Department, and with the Department of the Taoiseach.
EU Agriculture Ministers have consistently emphasised the importance of a strong and adequately funded CAP which supports viable farm incomes, food production, food security and vibrant rural areas, while enabling farmers to contribute to environmental and climate objectives. That is of course being considered in the context of the wider negotiations on the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework. The Irish Presidency is working to progress those negotiations to a point that will then allow Heads of State and Government to ultimately agree on a balanced outcome across all EU budgetary headings that will support the delivery of CAP and other EU objectives.