“We will fight for farmers” – MEP Liam Aylward

KEY BUDGETARY discussions will be taking place in Europe over the next two years to finalise how the EU budget 2014 - 2021 will be spent. These negotiations will be vitally important in terms of deciding future CAP spending levels for Ireland for this period.

Liam Aylward, Fianna Fáil MEP said today:

"The debate is already underway in Europe on budgetary priorities under the next EU financial perspective 2014-2021. This means seeking agreement on the policies that will receive EU financial support from the EU annual budget during this period.

"These discussions that are ongoing between the European Commission, the European Parliament and the EU Governments are due to be finalised in 2011.

"Fianna Fáil is committed to ensuring that Ireland receives the same level of support during the period 2014-2021 for the Common Agricultural Policy as is currently the case. Ireland is presently receiving 1.8 billion euro a year in CAP payments for the period 2009-2013, in line with the CAP Health agreement of November 2008.

"These negotiations are not going to be easy. However, we have many political allies across the length and breadth of Europe and we will fight for our appropriate share of the EU annual budget for the 2014-2021 period.

"We will fight to ensure that the interests of Irish farmers, their families, rural Ireland and the Irish food sector are fully protected during this negotiating process," he concluded.