Takáč: Slovakia in the European Parliament and the European Commission defends the interests of its farmers
Brussels – Slovakia on Thursday at the European Parliament and at the headquarters of the European Commission (EC) expressed its position on the future financing of the EU’s agricultural sector and the shaping of a new common agricultural policy. This was stated in Brussels by Minister of Agriculture Richard Takáč (Smer-SD) after a meeting with several Slovak MEPs and the European Commissioner for Agriculture Christoph Hansen, as reported by TASR.
Richard Takáč reminded that in the coming weeks, the EC’s proposal regarding the long-term budget of the EU after 2027 and the finances allocated for the agricultural sector, as well as the very shape of the common agricultural policy, will be addressed. He stated that Slovakia is dissatisfied with the amount allocated for Slovak farmers, as the EU’s agricultural sector as a whole should have 30 percent less resources.
Within the common agricultural policy, Slovaks will suffer the most due to the capping of direct payments to farmers
He added that within the new common agricultural policy, Slovaks will suffer the most due to the capping of direct payments to farmers. “We see this as a problem, and therefore we want to address it from the beginning with those most competent,” the minister explained his meeting with Commissioner Christoph Hansen, which was preceded by discussions with the chairwoman of the European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture (AGRI) Veronika Vrecionová and a meeting with several MEPs from Smer-SD, Hlas-SD, and the Republic. Takáč pointed out that he also wants to meet with MEPs from PS and KDH on this matter.
He considers the discussions at the EP to be useful, as he found out how the AGRI committee and MEPs perceive the proposals for the long-term budget and agricultural policy. He stated that the proposals from the European Commission are controversial even for the European Parliament, and the chairwoman of the AGRI committee understands the problems that Slovakia is facing.
“So far, I perceive that generally MEPs disagree with these proposals, with less money for agriculture and the setting of agricultural policy,” he explained.
The meeting at the EC headquarters with Hansen was also about these two topics, during which he informed the commissioner that for Slovakia, the red line is the capping at 100,000 euros per final user.
“This would mean the liquidation of 80 percent of farmers in Slovakia. However, we found common ground. We agreed that we need to support especially those farmers who produce, grow, and raise animals, employing a large number of people. This is what both the commissioner and I want to support; we just need to find a way to deliver the finances. He can also imagine that we would cap payments in Slovakia at 100,000 euros, but we would reimburse wage costs mainly for active farmers who employ and produce a lot,” Takáč explained.
The minister reminded that Hansen will visit Slovakia for work in a few weeks, and it will be an opportunity to show him some larger farms, to discuss these matters together again, and to look for ways to further assist small and medium-sized farmers. And mainly how to attract young people to the agricultural sector. (October 2)
