Brussels – On the day the European Commission (EC) was set to unveil its proposal for the EU’s long-term budget covering the years 2028 to 2034, farmers from various EU member states gathered in Brussels to protest outside the euro-institutions’ headquarters. The Slovak delegation was led by Andrej Gajdoš, the chairman of the Slovak Agricultural and Food Chamber (SPPK), according to TASR.
Hundreds of dissatisfied farmers, representing multiple professional and trade organizations, marched from the European Parliament (EP) to the EC headquarters, where a meeting on the multiannual financial framework (MFF) was taking place concurrently with the protest.
The farmers’ primary message was encapsulated in the slogan “Food security is security,” highlighting the need for a robust and well-funded common agricultural policy. Their posters urged the head of the Euro Commission to ensure that farmers are prioritized in the budget discussions.
Gajdoš conveyed to TASR that European farmers are advocating for a separate budget dedicated to farmers and food producers. He expressed concern over leaked information suggesting the potential merging of agricultural sector funds with the financial envelope for cohesion policy, as well as the possible dissolution of the “two-pillar” structure of the common agricultural policy.
“The first pillar guarantees fair income for farmers, while the second pillar supports rural development and provides agri-food services,” Gajdoš explained. He emphasized that the SPPK and farmers oppose the merging of these pillars and advocate for the creation of a third pillar focused on risk funds for the agricultural sector. “We are also worried about potential budget cuts. We are calling for an increase, especially in light of inflation,” he added.
In our opinion, this is the beginning of the end of the common agricultural policy
Gajdoš noted that farmers view the EC’s plan to grant individual member states control over portions of the agricultural budget as risky, which could lead to significant disparities within the EU’s internal market. “We believe this signals the start of the decline of the common agricultural policy, and we must oppose it, which is exactly what we are doing,” he asserted.
He acknowledged that the EC’s proposal represents only the initial step, as the European Parliament and EU Council will negotiate the final version of the MFF until the end of 2027. This timeline allows farmers the opportunity to exert pressure on these institutions and advocate for their interests. He reiterated that the agricultural sector is already in discussions with certain governments and EP members on these issues.
“We have sent a letter to the Prime Minister of Slovakia expressing our disapproval of this reform of the European budget. We understand that this is merely a first draft from the European Commission, and our efforts are just beginning, involving challenging negotiations and the need to explain to politicians and officials why the budget should be strengthened rather than diminished,” he concluded. (July 16)
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