Agriculture Minister Takáč suggested in Brussels that the EU needs to respond more flexibly to crises than SLAK.

Brussels – Key topics at Monday’s EU Council for Agriculture and Fisheries meeting in Brussels included the future of the common agricultural policy, foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), and the state of agriculture in Ukraine and its implications for the EU. This was announced by Richard Takáč, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Slovakia, following the ministers’ meeting, according to TASR. The minister highlighted extensive discussions on the vision for the common agricultural policy post-2027.

“We completely reject the merging of resources with any other EU funds, a sentiment echoed by several ministers. For 60 years, agricultural funds have remained separate, and farmers have protested against this merger. Such a move would mean a withdrawal of financial resources, which we cannot accept. The independence of EU funds and both the first and second pillars must be preserved as they currently are,” stated Takáč.

The minister revisited the issue of payment convergence for farmers, noting that Slovakia, 20 years after joining the EU, still does not achieve the average payments received by farmers in Western European countries, sitting at about 80% of this average. He voiced concerns regarding targeted support for farmers and its allocation between small and large producers, advocating for recognition of the diversity among member countries and their agricultural sectors, including Slovakia.

“We also discussed simplifying the common agricultural policy, and we appreciate the European Commission’s efforts to reduce bureaucracy for farmers, ensuring that the documents they need to submit are quicker and simpler,” Takáč elaborated.

He pointed out that some member states raised the topic of afforestation, linked to the European Commission’s strategy. He mentioned that while some countries face challenges with this, Slovakia has already prepared legislation and is increasing its workforce, supporting those nations seeking a streamlined process.

Takáč, along with his Czech counterpart, highlighted concerns regarding the EU ban on lead usage in fishing and hunting. He argued that this ban would raise costs for fishermen and consequently the prices of their catches, complicating hunting practices, which could hinder efforts to manage wild game populations affected by African swine fever.

A particular focus for Takáč was the foot-and-mouth disease epidemic. He emphasized that in crises for which no one is prepared, the European Commission should facilitate quicker and easier compensation for affected farmers.