Slovak farmers are disappointed with the legislation presented by the European Commission concerning the funding of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for 2021-27, Slovak Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Gabriela Matečná (SNS) said on Thursday, June 14.
“When the initial proposal was presented by the EC last autumn, many member countries were pleased by the expected cuts in red tape and the planned evening-out of farmers’ claims in individual member countries,” said Matečná, as cited by the TASR newswire. “Nonetheless, this hasn’t materialised.”
Out of the €365 billion allocated for agriculture in the EU in 2021-27, Slovakia is due to receive some €4 billion, with Slovak farmers complaining about an insufficient convergence with farmers in western Europe, among other things.
“At the moment, we’re at 78 percent of the EU average [in terms of farming subsidies],” said Matečná. “Slovak farmers should reach 87 percent of the EU average as late as in 2027.”
Another problem is being posed by payment limits for individual farms.
“Historically, we have big farms cultivating approximately 80 percent of the land, producing more than 90 percent of the overall output and providing jobs to many people,” said Matečná. “The imposition of payment limits at €60-100,000 is hardly acceptable to them. Nevertheless, we will not oppose the caps as such, because if they’re set well and made voluntary for individual member countries, they can aid active farmers.”
