Prague – Agricultural organizations from seven countries, including the Czech Republic, have urged the Council of the European Union (EU) to reject the proposed agricultural policy changes. They argue that the new policy will significantly raise food production costs. The Czech News Agency reported that the Agrarian Chamber of the Czech Republic, along with groups from Croatia, Latvia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia, has supported this appeal. Denmark currently holds the presidency of the EU Council.
While the overall EU budget is set to increase, the European Commission plans to reduce agricultural funding by 22 percent in the upcoming period, according to the Agrarian Chamber of the Czech Republic. “When adjusted for inflation, this equates to a reduction of approximately 45 to 50 percent. This will lead to fundamental changes in agricultural policy, including the elimination of the existing two-pillar funding system, which has previously directed resources toward investments or been linked to land area or livestock numbers,” the organizations stated.
They warn that the costs of production will rise significantly, potentially leading to higher prices that European consumers may not afford, resulting in a shift towards imported goods. “While these imports may be cheaper, they often do not adhere to high production standards, are of lower quality, and have a larger carbon footprint,” the agricultural organizations cautioned. They are therefore urging the EU Council to withdraw the proposals.
The President of the Agrarian Chamber of the Czech Republic, Jan Doležal, criticized the European Commission for making decisions without consulting the professional community or conducting a proper impact assessment. “These conditions will hinder the production of quality food in Europe, further undermining our food security,” he stated.
In Brussels, Minister of Agriculture Marek Výborný (KDU-ČSL) expressed concerns over the proposed new multiannual EU budget. He emphasized that agricultural policy should remain distinct and that the budget for agriculture must be addressed to maintain the EU’s competitiveness globally. He noted that he, along with other agricultural ministers, has raised concerns about the budget.
Výborný particularly criticized the new idea of unified financial envelopes for each member state, proposing that a single national fund should be used for agricultural and cohesion policy expenditures instead of multiple programs. He pointed out that Czech agriculture is unique in terms of farm structure and size, and he advocates for allowing member states to tailor policies to their specific needs. (September 22)
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