On June 23-24th, State Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Ģirts Krūmiņš took part in the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting in Luxembourg, where ministers discussed proposals for simplifying the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) as well as the European Commission’s (EC) proposals for sustainable fishing in the EU and 2026 fishing opportunities.
Ministers shared their views on the EC’s plans to reduce administrative burdens and introduce more flexible rules for implementing agricultural policy. The proposals also include relaxed requirements for good agricultural and environmental conditions (GAEC), as well as additional support for young, small-scale, and organic farmers. The EC has taken into account the concerns of several member states, including Latvia, regarding the challenges in managing and amending CAP strategic plans.
While Latvia generally welcomes the EC’s proposed changes to GAEC rules, it has once again called for the removal of GAEC 1 (permanent grassland preservation) and GAEC 2 (protection of wetlands and peatlands) from the list of obligations. Latvia argues that these measures place an extra burden on farmers and countries like Latvia, where the agricultural sector is still undergoing structural changes and where wetlands and peat soils cover large areas. Latvia is cautious about the EC’s proposal to exempt small and organic farmers from some environmental requirements, warning that this could place a bigger burden on other farmers who would still have to meet the permanent grassland rules. Latvia also supports the simplification of the CAP strategic plans amending procedures, but believes the true impact of these simplifications will only become clear during implementation.
Ģirts Krūmiņš said: "I believe the European Commission should be bolder and include additional elements in its proposals, such as simplifying the rules for fruit and vegetable producer organisations—especially small and new ones—removing GAEC requirements from forestry activities, simplifying state aid rules, and more. Overall, Latvia views the Commission’s proposals positively but sees room for improvement to achieve true simplification."
The EC also proposes reducing the use of the EU agricultural reserve and allowing member states to create new national crisis payments for farmers affected by natural disasters, severe weather, or catastrophic events. Latvia believes that a fairer and more effective solution in crisis situations would be to first use the EU-wide agricultural reserve, ensuring equal support access for all member states and avoiding market and competition distortions in the EU.
When discussing the EC's communication on sustainable fisheries, including in the Baltic Sea, and fishing limits for next year, Latvia urged the Commission to thoroughly assess all factors and not place the responsibility for declining fish stocks solely on EU fishermen. Latvia reminded the Commission that Russia’s ongoing targeted fishing in the Baltic Sea, which ignores scientific advice, is an additional threat to already endangered fish stocks.