National Chamber of Agriculture: Eastern European farmer organizations join forces to protest against the European Commission’s proposal

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In a joint statement, Eastern European farmer organizations reject the Commission’s proposals for the transformation of the Common Agricultural Policy. The agricultural and food industry associations of Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Poland, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are calling on the European Commission to immediately withdraw the proposals that fundamentally affect the future of European agriculture and the food industry. They are asking 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.

Hungary also protests

According to a document signed by the National Chamber of Agriculture and the Association of Hungarian Farmers’ Circles and Farmers’ Cooperatives, the Commission’s drafts on the future of the CAP not only endanger the livelihoods of farmers, but also undermine Europe’s food supply independence. According to the draft, the multiannual financial framework envisages a nominal reduction of the CAP budget by 22 percent, which, taking into account inflation, represents a decrease of more than 45 percent 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 jeopardize environmental objectives, which in the past were partly compensated by CAP funding.

The 23 organizations that signed the declaration also clearly indicate that Hungarian farmers are not alone in the fight to preserve CAP resources

The alliance formed between Eastern European countries represents a significant force against Brussels policy. However, European farmer organizations have not only joined forces at the level of declarations, they are also ready to take a joint stand. Soon, interest groups bringing together the players in the sector will take to the streets of Brussels again, together with producers. The upcoming demonstration was discussed in recent days with the leaders of Copa-Cogeca, the umbrella organization of agricultural organizations. The demonstration being organized aims to preserve EU agricultural subsidies.

NAK