Still no agreement, huge farmers’ protest possible in Brussels

The European Commission’s latest proposal will not bring any substantive change, and the plans in Brussels would have serious economic impacts – responded the interest grouping of European farmer organizations, Copa-Cogeca, of which the National Chamber of Agriculture (NAK) is also a member. The marginal adjustments announced by the European Commission are far from sufficient to maintain farmers’ livelihoods and the EU’s food security system. Brussels came up with new proposals after farmers and the European Parliament were already beginning to protest the planned cuts. In addition to farmers, politicians are also rejecting Brussels’ plans to reduce EU agricultural subsidies by more than 20 percent, abolish the autonomy of the Common Agricultural Policy, and completely withdraw subsidies from retired farmers. This would not be changed by the recent Commission proposal that 10 percent of the new single fund should be spent on rural development for vaguely defined purposes, and this is not a new source. European agricultural organisations are calling for an alternative that respects the essence of the CAP and preserves it as a stand-alone policy, with two pillars, a secure and independent budget and inflation-proof financing in line with the provisions of the EU Treaty. It is no longer just a farmers’ issue to simultaneously open up European markets to Ukrainian, Brazilian or Moroccan food. Agricultural organisations are determined and ready to mobilise all their strength for a cause that is vital for millions of farmers, cooperatives and rural communities. In December, a farmers’ demonstration of several thousand people is planned to express their dissatisfaction in the streets of Brussels.

NAK