Common Agriculture Policy must remain a core EU priority stresses Minister Heydon
- Published on: 24 March 2025
- Last updated on: 12 April 2025
The Common Agriculture Policy must remain a core European Union priority, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, has said in advance of March's Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels today.
Speaking before today’s meeting of the EU ‘AgriFish’ Council, Minister Heydon said:
“Competitiveness is a key issue for the EU as a whole. Supporting the competitiveness of farming and of the Irish food and drink industry is one of my key priorities as Minister. The Commission’s Vision for Agriculture and Food provides a good framework to address the future development and resilience of the entire agri-food sector.”
The Minister will emphasise that the CAP remains essential to a sustainable future for the agri-food sector:
“The next EU Budget will be very different in many ways, given the new and urgent demands. However, as a first principle, the CAP must remain a core expenditure priority, given the economic, social and environmental benefits it brings across all Member States.”
In the discussion of the Commission’s Vision, the Minister will also highlight key areas for development which Ireland is particularly engaged on:
“There are areas of particular interest – for example, the development of a sustainable livestock workstream, the generational renewal strategy, carbon credits and nature credits – where I think Ireland and other Member States could make useful contributions to the Commission’s strategy formation.”
The Minister concluded:
“I look forward to engaging with Commissioner Hansen and my fellow Ministers on these issues, and to having a bilateral meeting with my French counterpart, Ms Annie Genevard."
Minister of State with responsibility for Fisheries, Timmy Dooley, will also attend today's Council. Among the fisheries items under discussion is an Any Other Business item on the future EU funding for fisheries.
Minister Dooley said:
"A distinct and ring-fenced EU funding programme for the Seafood sector in the next funding period is essential in order to support the effective implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy."
Minister Dooley will also hold his first bilateral meeting with Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis.
Minister Dooley said:
"I look forward to working closely with Commissioner Kadis, particularly in the run up to Ireland’s Presidency of the EU."