Bratislava – On Tuesday, May 20, the Slovak Agricultural and Food Chamber (SPPK) plans to stage a protest in Brussels against the European Commission’s proposed changes to the funding structure for European agriculture. SPPK Chairman Andrej Gajdoš announced this on Monday, noting that the protest, characterized as a “flash action,” will occur near the roundabout at Schuman Square in central Brussels, according to TASR.
“This situation is completely unimaginable and unacceptable for European food producers. If the European Commission fails to establish a robust, independent, and sustainable budget for agri-food producers, it will put the food security of the European Union at risk in light of global challenges,” Gajdoš stated.
The protest aims to voice opposition to the proposed changes in agricultural funding, which could consolidate the approximately 530 existing European funds into a single “super fund.” The SPPK warns that this centralization might compromise agricultural financing. While proponents argue that a unified fund could offer budgetary flexibility, there are concerns that it would dilute the focus and guarantees of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) without a unified vision.
Transitioning from the dual-pillar CAP to a singular model of national programming could weaken the single market, hinder essential investments, and exacerbate disparities among member states. Additionally, such changes would threaten the livelihoods and sustainability of millions of farmers and jeopardize the stability of the agri-food supply chain.
The chamber cautioned that without a clearly defined and protected budget allocation for the European agricultural framework, the agricultural policy of the EU could face collapse, akin to a house of cards. This theme is central to the upcoming protest, symbolizing the potential demise of the EU’s agricultural policy if the CAP budget is not secured. Gajdoš explained that a symbolic house of cards will be constructed, with the lowest level representing that without a budget, the CAP cannot exist. The next level will represent that without the CAP, there are no farmers, and the top level will illustrate that without farmers, food security is at risk. (May 19)
“If the European Commission does not prepare a strong, independent, and sustainable budget for agri-food producers, then in the face of global threats, it will jeopardize the food security of the European Union.” – Andrej Gajdoš
Leave a Reply