Mental health services, young farmers and the LEADER programme must receive guaranteed EU funding under the National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPP), Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh has said.
The NRPP is a new proposal from the European Commission that would account for 44% of the EU’s total budget for 2028-2034, covering funding for the CAP, regional development, social policies, fisheries, and security.
MEP Walsh has submitted amendments to the NRPP which have called for protected LEADER funding, a dedicated allocation of 10% of CAP funding for young farmers, and specific investment in mental health services across Europe, including in Ireland.
MEP Maria Walsh said:
“The NRPP represents a major change in how the European Union funds policies that Irish workers, businesses and farmers rely on. While CAP funding under the NRPP includes a ringfenced budget for measures such as income payments, agri-environmental schemes and farm relief services, a number of important policies have been left without any guaranteed funding.
“This week, in both the Agriculture and Regional Development Committees, I submitted proposals to ensure that three priorities are protected: LEADER funding, mental health services and support for young farmers.
“Under the Commission’s currency proposal, funding for the LEADER programme is not guaranteed or protected within the NRPP. My amendment seeks to reverse this decision and ensure LEADER receives at least as much funding in the next budget cycle as it during the current 2021-2027 period. LEADER has transformed communities across rural Ireland and its future cannot be left to chance.
“As a founder and co-chair of the European Parliament’s Mental Health Intergroup, I want to see specific supports for mental health also included. That is why I have called for EU funding within the NRPP to strengthen mental health systems across Europe, including in Ireland.
“I am also the Parliament’s lead negotiator on generational renewal in agriculture, meaning I use every opportunity I can to remove barriers for young farmers trying to enter the agricultural sector. I strongly believe that at least 10% of the total CAP amount for 2028-2034 should be dedicated to young farmers and generational renewal. This belief is matched by the proposal I submitted to the NRPP report this week.
“These negotiations will help determine how EU funding is spent for the rest of the decade and beyond. It is vital that rural communities, mental health services and the next generation of farmers are not overlooked.”