EU Commissioner: Farmers’ income support under the Common Agricultural Policy will remain guaranteed

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At a press conference following an extraordinary meeting of EU agriculture ministers, Hansen said that in addition to the minimum €300 billion allocated to farmers in the next EU budget, it is proposed that at least 10 percent of the resources of all national and regional partnership plans be allocated to rural development. This amounts to nearly €49 billion, which could increase to almost €63 billion with the stimulus loans. He added that member states could also redirect a larger amount from the partnership plans to rural development. The Commissioner recalled that the European Commission had proposed to the Member States to mobilise an additional €45 billion to support farmers and rural communities, which he said could channel new resources into agriculture. Hansen stressed that agriculture and the agri-food sector are essential for Europe’s sovereignty and strategic autonomy, and that the CAP is the most important instrument for supporting farmers, which has continuously adapted over the years to new challenges, from climate change to social expectations. He also highlighted that the agri-food sector also benefits from the European Competitiveness Fund and the EU research programme, of which €40 billion has been allocated to biotechnology, bioeconomy, health and agriculture.

EU Commissioner for Trade Maros Sefcovic spoke about the trade policy context

He said that in order to maintain the EU’s global competitiveness, the Commission is striving to ensure the affordability of fertilisers, even in the face of persistently high energy prices. He indicated that although prices have stabilised, fertiliser costs are still around 60% higher than in 2020, and that the Commission is preparing a targeted response. This would include temporarily suspending most-favoured-nation (MFN) duties on ammonia, urea and, if necessary, other fertilisers, with a possible entry into force in 2026. The Commissioner also said that guidance would be provided for a proposal, still awaiting approval, that would allow for the temporary suspension of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) for certain products, such as fertilisers, if market monitoring indicates unforeseen circumstances. He added that the Commission would present an action plan on fertilisers in the second quarter of the year.

The use of pesticides is also being regulated

Olivér Várhelyi, the EU Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare, highlighted at the meeting that food production is the last sector in Europe in which the EU is largely self-sufficient, so farmers should face less administrative burdens. According to him, the Commission adopted the proposal on 16 December last year, which would make the situation of farmers more predictable through simplifications and accelerate the market entry of more environmentally friendly pesticides. Várhelyi stressed that the Commission would also strengthen the principle of reciprocity, i.e. that substances banned in the EU cannot be reintroduced through imported products. He indicated that an internal consultation has been launched on reducing the residue levels of three substances – carbendazim, benomyl and rifofanidimethyl – to zero, which is planned to come into effect from February. The Commissioner also mentioned that in order to strengthen import controls, checks in third countries have been increased by 50 percent this year, and the capacity of EU border control points would also be expanded.

MTI