Takac: New EU Changes Must Take Structure of Slovak Agriculture into Account

Bratislava, 21 November (TASR) - European changes will significantly affect the functioning of the Slovak agricultural sector after 2028, and it's therefore necessary to actively promote solutions that will be fairer and take the structure of Slovak agriculture into account, said Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Richard Takac (Smer-SD) on Friday. Takac was speaking at a working meeting of partners on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in the context of the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034. "Slovakia needs a stable, predictable and fair agricultural policy after 2028. The changes coming from Brussels must respect our specific characteristics - the high proportion of larger farms, the important role of small farmers and the need for rural development. We'll consistently promote all these parameters in negotiations with the European Commission," said the minister. The Agriculture Ministry stated that Takac is launching a social dialogue not only at the European level, but also with socio-economic partners at home. The aim is to create the conditions that will support the modernisation of the sector, make domestic producers more competitive and strengthen the resilience of rural areas. "Slovakia will speak with one strong voice to the European Union, saying that the proposed CAP is unfair and ill-conceived, and we'll put pressure on the European Commission to reverse this and ensure that agriculture in Europe, and especially in Slovakia, will be strong," stated Takac. am/df