On Monday, March 21, in Brussels, Kaspars Gerhards, the Minister for Agriculture, participated in the EU Council of Ministers for Agriculture and Fisheries (Council) where Member States and the European Commission discussed the tense situation on agricultural and food market after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Kaspars Gerhards, the Minister for Agriculture emphasizes: “European Union is unanimous in its understanding of the Common Agricultural Policy objective – to provide our inhabitants with food in necessary amounts. Currently, there are several possible solutions and support instruments, identified at the European Union level for our farmers and food producers to guarantee provision of our inhabitants with food. In these conditions our farmers need an immediate support therefore, action must be taken without delay.”
To stabilize pig production sector, the aid could be provided for private storage of pig meat. Whereas, to use agricultural land maximally, it could be allowed to use fallows for food and fodder production thus, permitting derogations from compliance with greening requirements of the direct payments in 2022. At the same time, new provisional regulations could be implemented for State aid to alleviate consequences of the crisis, amongst others, for the sector of agriculture after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as well as an urgency adjustment aid could be provided, using the crisis reserve or compensation of increase in prices for resources and raw material for sectors in difficulties.
In addition, COM informed Member States on its decision to suspend achieving of objectives of a sustainable use of plant protection means.
“State Aid Temporary Crisis Framework to support the EU economy is appreciated although the State aid threshold per beneficiary, laid down as EUR 20 000 is not sufficient therefore it must increased,” pointed out Kaspars Gerhards.
In addition, several Member States indicated that in current conditions, other derogations from the greening conditions must also be granted for the sector of agriculture, for example, regarding diversification of crops as well as conformity of some objectives of Green Deal to the current situation must also be assessed and a possibility to adjust them to guarantee provision with food.
According to COM estimates, at present, there are no grounds for concerns regarding provision with food in the EU Member States. As Janusz Wojciechowski, EU Commissioner for Agriculture emphasized, food is one the EU defense strategy elements therefore, in long-term, such EU budget must be developed, which would also be sufficiently effective from the point of view of defense.