Agricultural Chambers of V4 Countries and Austria Discuss Future of Agriculture

Vysoke Tatry, 4 December (TASR) - The agenda of the joint meeting of representatives of the agricultural chambers of the V4 (Visegrad Four) countries (the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia) and Austria, which is taking place on Thursday and Friday (5 December) in the High Tatra mountains, is the future of the common agricultural policy after 2027, the Agriculture Ministry's communications department told TASR on Thursday. The representatives, together with Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Richard Takac (Smer-SD) and President of the Austrian Chamber of Agriculture Nikolaus Berlakovich, are also discussing the new European Union (EU) budget and current challenges facing the agricultural sector in the region. In the opening session, participants discussed the current situation in agriculture, this year's harvest, the impact of extreme weather, commodity price developments, and the spread of plant and animal diseases, which significantly affect the stability of the sector. The key topic of the meeting is the proposal for the EU's Multiannual Financial Framework and the shape of the Common Agricultural Policy for 2028-2034. In the discussion, Takac emphasised that agriculture needs a strong and predictable budget that will enable farmers to invest in modernisation, climate resilience, and increasing food self-sufficiency. "The future competitiveness of our farms, the stability of rural areas, and the food security of our citizens depend on the budgetary decisions we make today. That is why we don't agree with weakening the financial envelope for the agricultural sector and we demand fair conditions for farmers in the V4 countries and throughout the region," said the minister. Another item on the agenda is a discussion on the EU's trade relations with third countries, including the impact of trade agreements with MERCOSUR countries and the deepening of trade liberalisation. Representatives of the chambers and the minister point to the need for equal rules for producers both inside and outside the EU. They agree that imports of food produced according to lower standards must not put European farmers at a disadvantage. am