DIRECT payments for farmers in new member states of the European Union was one of the themes discussed during a one-day visit of a delegation from the Danish Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries to Slovakia. The delegation was headed by State Secretary Poul Ottosen.
Slovakia considers these consultations significant since Denmark will preside over the European Union during the second half of the year when Slovakia wants to close its Agriculture negotiation chapter. The Danish delegation was interested in the economic situation of Slovak agriculture, direct payments from the European Union and national subsidies after Slovakia becomes a member.
The EU recently caused a stir among candidate countries by declaring new members would receive only 25 per cent of the agriculture subsidies given to existing members.
