We are further strengthening cooperation in the field of agriculture with Slovakia

(Photo: AM/István Fekete)

István Nagy emphasized that it is important that we can always get the best out of our common issues, if we join forces, we can more easily enforce our interests. The minister explained that the Strategic Plan of the Common Agricultural Policy brought new conditions, which is why our country strengthened the network of consultants and village farmers. The effectiveness of the Hungarian agricultural support system is shown by the fact that we were able to create the conditions for paying an increased amount of 70 percent advance support to 136,000 farmers, even within the framework of the completely new, strict conditions and requirements set by the EU. In the midst of last year’s financing difficulties, this is of enormous importance in individual economies. This huge number of farmers is roughly 80 percent of those entitled – added the head of the ministry, who, in connection with the market difficulties caused by Ukrainian agricultural products, spoke at the meeting that, keeping in mind the interests of Hungarian farmers, in the absence of meaningful EU measures, our country intends to continue to maintain the import ban. István Nagy informed his colleague that, like in European countries, Hungarian farmers will demonstrate against the agrarian policy measures of the Brussels bureaucrats. Our country would like as many member states as possible to support our fight against the threat to Ukrainian agriculture in Brussels. He emphasized that the possible accession of our north-eastern neighbor to the European Union would permanently make it difficult for European and Hungarian producers to live, since producers working under the constraints of EU regulations cannot compete with hundreds of thousands of hectares of Ukrainian farms owned by global capital, which produce in compliance with much lighter rules .

István Nagy also spoke about government measures to curb inflation, citing as examples the food price freeze and the online price monitoring system

The latter initiative served the needs of consumers in order to invigorate market competition and increase price transparency in the retail market. A significant price reduction can be observed in the product categories affected by the price monitor. The Ministry of Agriculture also pays special attention to the support and promotion of Hungarian products. In relation to our country’s EU presidency, the minister also spoke about the fact that we want to focus on the management of crisis situations in the framework of the negotiations on the rules of the Common Agricultural Policy after 2027. In addition, we pay attention to increased action against food waste in order to present answers to current challenges and good practices. We also place great emphasis on preserving the food sovereignty of the European Union. We stand by the basic principle that products from third countries must comply with the same rules as food produced in the Union, added the head of the ministry.

AM