Farmers are vowing to continue their sit in protest at EC offices in Dublin until EU leaders agree not to impose cuts on CAP payments.
Up to fifty members of the Irish Farmers Association camped out in the building last night as EU leaders including Taoiseach Enda Kenny met in Brussels for talks on a new seven year budget for the Eurozone
It’s proposed that CAP payments – which is one of the items up for discussion could be cut by as much as 200 million euro next year – a move which the IFA says will have a detrimental impact on the agricultural industry in Ireland.
IFA Deputy President, Eddie Downey says a reduction in the budget could also impact on consumers.
Meanwhile,
EU leaders are fearful a deal won’t be reached on a trillion euro budget for the bloc.
There are major divisions among various states – with British Prime Minister David Cameron threatening to use his veto if other EU countries call for any rise in spending.
Late last night, the president of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy handed a new draft proposal to European leaders.
They’ll gather again this lunchtime, but speaking through an interpreter last night, Germany’s chancellor Angela Merkel wasn’t sounding hopeful.
