The Common Agricultural Policy and Northern Ireland
Agriculture is one of Northern Ireland’s most important industries. The industry accounts for an annual turnover of some £4.5 billion and a workforce of approximately 29,000 people. Northern Ireland is more dependent on the agricultural sector (including the agri-food business) than any other part of the United Kingdom.
The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is one of the EU’s most developed and most expensive policies. Spending on CAP accounts for approximately 40 per cent of the entire EU budget and Northern Ireland will receive over €2.5 billion in EU agricultural support between 2014 and 2020.
CAP: Direct Payments (Pillar 1)
2007-2013: €2,231 million
2014-2020: €2,299 million
CAP: Rural Development Programme (Pillar 2)
2007-2013: €329.5 million
2014-2020: €228 million
Northern Ireland fares better in terms of receipts from the CAP than other UK regions receiving almost 10 per cent of the entire UK CAP allocation.
Percentage share of pillar 1 funding
England: 65.5
Northern Ireland: 9.2
Scotland: 16.3
Wales: 8.96
Percentage share of pillar 2 funding
England: 58.9
Northern Ireland 8.8
Scotland: 18.5
Wales: 13.7