The Hungarian EU presidency shows the direction for the common agricultural policy after 2027

(Photo: AM)

The minister presented the agricultural sector priorities of the Hungarian presidency to the European Parliament’s agricultural and rural development, environmental protection, public health and food safety committees. In his opinion, the payment of funds is the most important issue for all European farmers, and it is also important how farmers can be encouraged to increase their contribution to the creation of a sustainable European agricultural sector and the green transition. In his speech, the minister said that farmer-centered EU agricultural policy is one of the central priorities of the Hungarian EU presidency. “I am convinced that the interests of farmers must be put at the center of EU agricultural policy, since by guaranteeing food security they produce basic public goods for all EU citizens,” he emphasized.

The minister highlighted that the agricultural priorities are competitive, crisis-resistant, sustainable, farmer-friendly and knowledge-based agriculture

As he said, it is a joint task to restore the competitiveness of the EU agricultural sector, which has been significantly degraded by extreme weather caused by climate change, spreading animal and plant diseases, increased input costs or imports from third countries. “In order to be able to respond to these challenges, the agricultural sector must be made crisis-proof, which requires appropriate crisis prevention and crisis management measures,” the head of the ministry emphasized. In István Nagy’s opinion, sustainable agriculture and forestry play an important role in the fight against climate change, in the protection of biological diversity and nature, and through this also in the preservation of the world’s created values. He also drew attention to the need to break with the false belief that agriculture and farmers are seen as the cause of climate change. Furthermore, it is essential to properly encourage producers to use more sustainable production practices, said the minister. He emphasized that the creation of knowledge-based and innovative agriculture is essential for achieving the fulfillment of sustainability goals and increasing competitiveness. – Greater emphasis must be placed on knowledge transfer and the creation of added value locally. The use of innovative solutions can contribute greatly to the sector’s environmental and climate policy goals – added István Nagy. The politician also mentioned that the goal of the Hungarian presidency is to avoid additional administrative and budgetary burdens on producers and member state authorities. In relation to the proposal on the protection of animals during transport, he said that the Hungarian presidency places emphasis on expert-level, strategic and professional exchange of ideas in order to develop prudent regulations.

MTI