On Monday, March 30th, Minister for Agriculture Armands Krauze emphasised at the meeting of the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels that the sharp increase in production costs is significantly affecting the viability of the agricultural sector and requires a faster and more flexible policy response at EU level.
“At present, what farmers need most is not new and distant objectives, but practical instruments that help cover rising costs and maintain competitiveness in these days, these weeks and this spring, when spring sowing is underway,” Minister for Agriculture Armands Krauze stressed at the meeting.
The central topic of the discussions was progress in implementing the European Commission’s Vision for Agriculture and Food. The Minister for Agriculture noted that, although the strategic direction can be viewed positively, significant challenges remain in its practical implementation, particularly with regard to the sufficiency of funding and its targeted use.
A substantial part of Common Agricultural Policy funding is directed towards basic income support, which limits the possibilities to implement other development measures, for example, to focus support more on active farmers and food production in order to promote higher productivity and the production of greater added value.
Particular attention in the discussions was also paid to farmers’ ability to adapt to rapidly changing economic circumstances. Minister for Agriculture Armands Krauze noted that the increase in fuel and fertiliser prices by approximately 27% has significantly raised farm costs, creating additional pressure on the viability of the sector.
The Minister also emphasised the need to provide more flexible solutions in crisis situations, allowing Member States to respond more swiftly to market fluctuations and rising costs, as well as to strengthen support for the entire food chain, including processing.
In discussions on trade, the Minister for Agriculture stated that the EU must pursue a balanced trade policy, ensuring both access to new markets and effective protection for farmers, particularly with regard to essential production resources such as fertilisers.