EU Agriculture Chief Rejects Reform-Linked Funds for Farmers
The outgoing EU Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski, expressed strong opposition to tying the EU budget, particularly in agriculture, to political conditions and milestones. He emphasized that this approach, reminiscent of the bloc’s post-pandemic recovery fund requirements, is “unacceptable.”
Wojciechowski, who is finalizing his end-of-mandate activity report, highlighted the resilience of the agrifood sector amidst challenges such as the pandemic, extreme weather, and the economic repercussions of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He believes that agricultural funding should not depend on adherence to certain political reforms or economic benchmarks.
He articulated concerns that farmers in Poland could miss out on essential financial support due to unrelated political issues, underscoring that this scenario might similarly affect farmers in Italy because of Italy’s public debt concerns.
In addition, Wojciechowski expressed regret regarding recent proposals from the European Commission to reduce EU funding for the promotion of agricultural products, which he considers vital for maintaining a trade surplus in the sector. The proposed cuts of €440 million from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) budget for 2025-2027 mainly target promotional support for EU agrifood products.
Wojciechowski advocated for enhanced food diplomacy, recalling successful missions to markets in Vietnam, Singapore, India, China, Kazakhstan, and Japan. He emphasized that the quality of EU products is key to the EU’s success in agrifood trade and should be actively promoted.
Regarding the concept of “mirror clauses” aimed at ensuring equal production standards for EU producers and international competitors, Wojciechowski urged caution. He recognized the benefits of open trade for the EU and suggested that negotiators should strive for production standard alignment when discussing free trade agreements, while being mindful of potential trade barriers.
This perspective outlines impressive insights into the future direction of EU agricultural policy as Wojciechowski concludes his term.
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John Peterson graduated with a degree in Agricultural Sciences from Wageningen University in the Netherlands. His specialization is in sustainable crop production and soil health management. John is passionate about integrating modern technology with traditional farming methods to enhance productivity while preserving the environment. He currently works as a consultant, helping farmers adopt sustainable practices.