István Nagy, the government stands by the farmers at this week’s demonstration against Brussels

The Minister of Agriculture emphasized on his social media page: it is enough that Brussels makes decisions one after another that make it impossible for European farmers, including Hungarians. On Thursday, thousands of producers will march in Brussels to protest against the restructuring of Brussels’ agricultural policy and the planned EU-Mercosur free trade agreement with South America. Hungarian farmers will also be there, and “we completely agree with them,” said the head of the ministry. According to the video message, the government’s position is clear: we must say no to the EU-Mercosur agreement, because this agreement would destroy the competitiveness of European farmers, make agriculture impossible, and endanger Europe’s food security. It is no coincidence that more and more people are protesting against it – the head of the ministry pointed out. He recalled: the other day, 57 Hungarian civil and agricultural organizations wrote an open letter to the government and the members of the European Parliament, asking them not to accept the agreement in its current form. As a result of the Mercosur agreement, agricultural products of objectionable quality, such as poultry and beef, as well as honey, would flow into the European Union in uncontrollable quantities. These are products that do not comply with European production and food safety rules, added the Minister of Agriculture. István Nagy emphasized: “we consistently insist” that what enters the European Union must comply with the same rules as the food produced here. The situation is further aggravated by the fact that Brussels’ market opening to Ukraine and the Mercosur agreement together would send the entire European agriculture to the ground, he said. The farmers’ concern is therefore understandable, which is why tens of thousands are taking to the streets in Brussels this Thursday. We support the farmers’ struggle and will continue to protect their interests, because safe food supply cannot be used as a tool for political games, we will not allow that to happen – said István Nagy.

MTI