V4+ agricultural chambers protest European Commission plans

Representatives of the agricultural chambers of the Visegrád Group (V4) countries met in Warsaw. In addition to the Czech, Polish, Hungarian and Slovak chambers, the Lithuanian and Latvian agricultural chambers also participated in the meeting. In this context, they discussed the challenges facing the region’s agriculture and agreed to continue joint action against the European Commission’s plans. Among other things, the market situation, the issue of climate change, and in particular the EU’s trade relations with third countries were discussed. The chambers strongly protest against the European Commission’s plan to cut agricultural subsidies by more than 20% for the 2028-2034 EU budget cycle and to abolish the autonomous EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). This has put EU producers at a serious competitive disadvantage, especially at a time when European markets are under enormous import pressure from Ukraine, South America and North African countries. The participants expressed serious concerns about the continued opening of trade with third countries, which is taking place in the context of asymmetry in production requirements. They stressed that products are being allowed onto the EU market that do not even come close to meeting the food safety standards expected of EU producers, which poses a serious threat to consumer safety and the competitiveness of European agriculture. The V4+ agricultural chambers firmly reject the entry into force of the EU-Mercosur trade agreement and jointly protest against imports of uncertain origin from Ukraine. The participants of the meeting stressed the importance of unity. As at the farmers’ demonstration in Brussels in mid-December last year and at the Strasbourg demonstration on January 20, they will continue to stand firmly and unitedly for the interests of producers and consumers in the future.

NAK