The European Parliament will vote later today on a report which is highly critical of the proposed reform of the CAP because of the impact it would have on Europe's small holders.
Irish MEPs also yesterday complained in the parliament about the blocking of Fishguard port on Monday, which led to delays for Irish exporters.
The report on the CAP was compiled by the parliament's Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, which pointed out that small farmers will be severely hit if the reforms go ahead.
The report, presented by the Portuguese MEP, Mr Arlindo Cunha, said the cuts being proposed do not incorporate any Cohesion or equity criteria, which is contrary to what is laid down in the Amsterdam Treaty. "They widen the gap between crops which do and those which do not qualify for direct income support, which will gradually create a kind of schizophrenia within the CAP," the report stated.
"The wealthiest farmers will be those who benefit most from the subsidies without having to expose themselves to major risks," it stated. "Farmers with the lowest incomes will be required basically for what they earn on the market, with all the risks that entails," it added.
The litany of complaints against the reforms, which, the report said, were being imposed so the EU could conclude a World Trade Agreement with the US on other issues, was given a large measure of support by speakers.
Mr Liam Hyland, the Leinster Fianna Fail MEP, said that what was being proposed was totally unacceptable to Ireland because it did not protect the interests of Irish farming or enhance rural development.
He said that the price reductions being proposed in the reforms, which vary from 30 per cent to 15 per cent, would only be supported if they are accompanied by full payments to farmers to offset the impact of price reductions.
The Ulster/Connacht Fine Gael MEP, Mr Joe McCartin, called for a long-term strategy to design a future for the industry and said there should be alternative options put forward by the Commission.
Ms Nuala Ahern, the Leinster Green MEP, said that EU intervention was being used to lower agricultural prices in the Union to world price levels and Ireland should not allow this to happen.
"It would be better to have a complete end to intervention and to provide support for sustainable agriculture than to use it as a mechanism for price reduction," she said.
Following the call by the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh, in Dublin, for normal trading activity between neighbours, the Fishguard blockade by Welsh farmers was raised by Irish MEPs.
Mr Jim Fitzsimons, the Leinster FF MEP, said it was simply not good enough for the British authorities to allow a situation where Irish hauliers were denied access and the use of British roads.
He said the 16-hour delay caused to Irish trucks in Fishguard was unacceptable and the EU and the British authorities should guarantee open and full access to all road users.
The Leinster FG MEP, Mr Alan Gillis, said he had written to the European Commissioner for Transport, Mr Neil Kinnock, and the UK Agriculture Minister, Mr Cunningham, who is also President of the European Council of Ministers, protesting about the most recent failure of the British authorities to protect the functioning of the single market from disruption.
Mr Walsh is to raise the matter with his British counterpart when they meet tomorrow.