Post-2027 CAP must focus on 'food security and price stability'
While it's not possible to know what the new CAP will look like after 2027, the Taoiseach said, "we can be absolutely certain that there will be a focus on climate and the environment". Picture: Gareth Chaney / Collins Photos
The next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), post-2027, must have a focus on food security and price stability, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said.
He told farmers at the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association AGM on Friday that he believes these are "two things we take a little bit for granted in Europe at the moment".
While it's not possible to know what the new CAP will look like after 2027, the Taoiseach said, "we can be absolutely certain that there will be a focus on climate and the environment".
Mr Varadkar stressed that it should not be forgotten "why the CAP was created in the first place" - so that people could have affordability and security of food - "something that is not the case in large parts of the world".
"Europe has some of the highest production standards in the world and we need to be a competitive agriculture sector in the future if we're to maintain our position as a leading producer of safe and sustainable food," Mr Varadkar said.
"I can assure you Ireland will again argue for a well-funded CAP to protect farm incomes and the family farm model."
The European Commission is already working on proposals for a new CAP beyond 2027, Mr Varadkar said.
He added that the Irish EU presidency "falls at a very useful time for us, in the second half of 2026".
"We need to make sure that when that comes, we're represented by politicians that are pro-European, and have the experience and the contacts that are needed for success," he said.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar also responded to concerns about the Mercosur trade deal and the impact it could have on the Irish beef industry.
He told farmers that Government does not support the deal in its current form.
"I don't even think this is going to come up for a vote in this current term in its current format," Mr Varadkar said.
"But, to rule it out entirely would be a mistake for us - we're a country that benefits hugely from free trade and free trade agreements.
"We export 90% of what you produce, the reason why we're a relatively wealthy country in the world is because of exports and it would be a tactical strategic error for us to become an anti-free trade country, we actually could end up losing more than we gain."
