Takac: New EU Common Agricultural Policy Proposal Bad for Slovakia

Bratislava, 4 January (TASR) - The proposal for the new EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for 2028-34 is bad for Slovakia, Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Richard Takac (Smer-SD) said in an interview with TASR, adding that the main issues involve reduced funding and the so-called capping based on farm size. "From 2026 onwards, it's probably going to be a big fight for us in terms of the Common Agricultural Policy. The proposal is bad for Slovakia. Capping is a huge problem. Until now, we've had the n+3 spending rule; in the strategic plan, the n+2 rule applies, and now the EU wants to introduce an n+1 rule. For example, when it comes to building permits, implementing a project within a single year is unrealistic," said Takac. "Historically, Slovakia has the highest share of large farms, but we cannot suffer because of that. We cannot be penalised by mandatory capping being imposed on us," he noted, adding that the entire proposal must be reworked and changed. "In my opinion, we still have about half a year for this. It will likely be handled by Cyprus which is holding the EU Presidency (from 1 January). Ultimately, some issues might not be resolved at the level of agriculture ministers, so they'll have to be addressed at the highest level, that is, by prime ministers," added Takac. jrg