AGRICULTURE ministers from the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland plan to take the European Commission (EC) to the European Court of Justice over the EC's decision to fine their countries for the over-supply of certain agricultural products.
The ministers came to this decision after their meeting of Visegrad Four Group (V4) agriculture ministers in Palárikovo (Nitra Region) on May 28 and 29. The fourth V4 member, Hungary, supports the move.
"According to the EC's decision, we will have to pay fines for over-supplying (agricultural products)," said Slovak Agriculture Minister Miroslav Jureňa. "We consider the decision to be unfair, so we will take legal action."
Based on a proposal prepared by the Czech Republic, the ministers approved the setting up of a working group that will co-ordinate the stance of V4 countries on the potential reform of the sugar market and its consequences.
Polish Agriculture Minister Andrzej Lepper said that the EU's attitude towards countries that joined the EU in 2004 is not based on the principle of partnership.
4. Jun 2007 at 0:00 | From press reports