Farmers’ organizations are preparing to hold a “flash action” at the European Commission offices in Dublin on Tuesday, voicing their opposition to proposals that would abolish the ring-fenced budget for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in favor of a one-off funding system to be distributed by individual EU member states. The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) and the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS) are spearheading the protest, which is set to begin at 9:30am and will coincide with a parallel demonstration organized by COPA COGECA—the largest union representing over 22 million European farmers—taking place in Brussels. The timing of these actions is deliberate, aligning with an EU Commission budget conference occurring in Brussels that same day.
Recent speculation in Brussels has pointed to the possibility that the European Commission is considering a significant overhaul of the EU budget, consolidating more than 530 separate programs into a single, generalized fund. This restructuring would effectively eliminate the dedicated, protected CAP budget, instead merging it into broader funding streams managed at the national level. The Commission is reportedly seeking to implement these changes under the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), with discussions set to begin as early as July this year. Concerns among farming groups intensified last week when Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen revealed that the Commission’s proposal for the post-2027 CAP would be announced in mid-July—unusually, at the same time as the overall MFF proposal. Traditionally, CAP proposals have followed after MFF negotiations, so this shift has heightened fears that the CAP’s protected status is in jeopardy, despite Commissioner Hansen’s assurances that he intends to advocate for a ring-fenced CAP budget.
Barry Cowen, a Fianna Fáil Member of the European Parliament and former Minister for Agriculture, has strongly criticized the potential dismantling of the CAP’s ring-fenced budget, describing it as a “grave mistake” and “unfathomable,” particularly at a time when farmers are grappling with increasing financial and regulatory challenges. Cowen has repeatedly called for a proportional increase in CAP funding, arguing that removing the ring-fenced budget would undermine the strategic foundation of European agriculture at a critical juncture. He warned that such a move would erode confidence in farming’s future among young people, families, investors, and innovators. According to Cowen, the proposed changes are not about simplification but rather represent a centralization of power, placing budgetary control in the hands of the Commission President and allowing Brussels to allocate—or withhold—funds based on political considerations. He contends that this would result in less transparency, less accountability, and a diminished relevance to the realities faced by farmers on the ground.
Francie Gorman, President of the IFA, will participate in the Brussels action as vice-president of COPA, while IFA Deputy President Alice Doyle and ICOS President Edward Carr will lead the demonstration in Dublin. Gorman has expressed concern that the Commission appears determined to pursue a single fund structure, which he believes would signal the “beginning of the end of CAP as we know it.” He emphasized that such a change would undermine the security that CAP provides to millions of farm families throughout Europe. Gorman also stressed the importance of sending a strong message to the EU Commission that the CAP’s funding model and structure are vital for the development of the farming and food sectors in Ireland, especially given the shifting geopolitical landscape. He insisted that food security must remain central to the Commission’s agenda.
Edward Carr, President of ICOS, highlighted that the CAP is the cornerstone of a sustainable and competitive farming and agri-food sector in both Ireland and Europe. He noted that CAP plays a crucial role in maintaining farm incomes, supporting rural communities, and advancing climate and environmental objectives across the EU. Carr argued that what is needed is a robust, practical, and fully resourced CAP—one that reduces bureaucratic red tape and allows farmers to focus on food production rather than paperwork. He warned that undermining or defunding the CAP could exacerbate the generational renewal crisis in farming and called on the European Commission to support its farming citizens, safeguard food security, and protect this essential policy.
Farmers will gather at the EU Commission offices on Mount Street, Dublin 2, at 9:30am, determined to make their voices heard as the EU’s future agricultural policy and funding structure hang in the balance.
