Farmers’ face-off with Euro hopefuls

GALWAY farmers have been asked to turn out in force for a face-to-face meeting with European Election candidates in the McWilliam Park Hotel, Claremorris on Wednesday night next, April 24 (8pm).

All 17 candidates for the sprawling Midlands-North-West constituency have been invited to attend the meeting that will be spearheaded by IFA National President, Joe Healy, who has stressed the key role that the next European Parliament will have in relation to Irish farming.

Joe Healy said this week that the major decisions on the shape of the next Common Agricultural Policy and the future trading relationship between the EU and UK will be made during the lifetime of the new European Parliament.

“It is vital that farmers vote for candidates who will be willing to fight ‘on their backs’ for Irish farmers,” he said.

On Brexit, the IFA President said that while the Withdrawal Agreement was proving to be a very challenging process, the future trading relationship with the UK had the potential to be even more complex and would have huge consequences for Ireland.

“Despite Brexit, the proposed EU budget for 2021 to 2027 is higher due to a proposed increase in contributions from the remaining 27 Member States. Yet, the proposed CAP budget is down by 5%, or €97m per annum in Ireland. When the EU proxy inflation rate of 2% is factored in the real impact would be minus 17%.

“The EU is downgrading the importance of agriculture and food production in favour of other programmes.

“Under the Commission proposals, the CAP budget will be less than 30% of the overall EU budget, down from almost 60% in the mid 80’s.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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