NAK: Eastern European farmer organizations join forces to protest against the European Commission’s proposal

The signatories of the document are ready to take a joint stand, and will organize another demonstration in Brussels in the fall – joined by Western European farmers – the chamber emphasized. In a joint statement, the Eastern European farmer organizations reject the Commission’s proposals for the transformation of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The agricultural and food industry associations of Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Poland, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania call on the European Commission to immediately withdraw the proposals that fundamentally affect the future of European agriculture and the food industry. They call on the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament to take firm action against the Commission’s proposals and oblige the Commission to withdraw the drafts, they wrote in the statement.

The draft MFF foresees a nominal reduction of 22% in the CAP budget, which, taking into account inflation, represents a reduction of more than 45% in real terms. Such a drastic withdrawal of resources would further weaken the competitiveness of European agriculture at a time when it is already under pressure due to increased administrative burdens, global market exposure and climate challenges. It would also jeopardise environmental objectives, which in the past were partly compensated by CAP funding. “The 23 organisations that signed the declaration also clearly indicate that we are not alone in the fight to preserve CAP resources, and the alliance formed between Eastern European countries represents a significant force against Brussels politics,” the NAK said.

However, European farmers’ organizations have not only come together at the level of declarations, they are also ready to take a common stand

The interest groups representing the sector’s players will soon take to the streets of Brussels again together with the producers. The upcoming demonstration was discussed in recent days with the leaders of Copa-Cogeca, which brings together farmers’ organizations, and the aim of the demonstration being organized is to preserve EU agricultural subsidies – the Chamber of Agriculture indicated.

MTI