The Irish Farmers’ Association and the group representing co-ops in Ireland are due to protest at the European Commission offices in Dublin to warn against stripping away the CAP budget in favour of a single fund approach to the EU budget.
The commission has proposed to amalgamate CAP into a single fund instrument – an idea that has provoked concern across the agricultural sector.
Farm groups say the move could lead to funding for agriculture being reduced over time, as it would not be ring fenced in a dedicated way (such as with CAP).
The commission argues the change would allow for a fairer distribution of funding among farmers and reduce red tape.
The protest in Dublin is expected to get under way at 9.30am and will coincide with a flash action organised by COPA COGECA (European farming group) in Brussels to highlight the importance of the CAP budget.
Similar protests will take place in other EU countries at the same time.
The commission is holding a budget conference in Brussels, and the action is timed to happen when the conference is under way.
