Minister Engages in Coalition-Building for Reform of EU Agricultural Subsidies
Minister of Agriculture Helir-Valdor Seeder said Latvian senior officials have expressed support to him for faster convergence of the EU's direct agricultural subsidies.
"I am pleased to state that we share the same opinions as Latvia regarding equalization of agricultural subsidies among member states,” said Seeder after the meeting with Latvian Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis and Agriculture Minister Laimdota Straujuma on November 30, at which they put in place tactics for finding allies.
Now, arguably, comes the harder part. Seeder has made a point of meeting with colleagues from member states to promote Estonia's positions on the matter. In addition to the Latvian ministers, Seeder has met the Irish Minster of Agriculture. Next on the schedule, he is due to travel to Finland on December 1 and he will have meetings with France, Great Britain and Denmark the week after next.
Seeder says the demise of smallholder farms would be a significant step back for European development. "Because levels of direct subsidies vary so much, it is difficult to achieve the same objectives. If farmers are not equally ensured a stable income, then farms are in serious danger and so is the development of all of Europe," said Seeder in the statement.
Seeder called redistribution of subsidies the most complicated part of Common Agrculture Policy reform and one that will be probably agreed upon in the final phase. He said heads of state, who will make a decision with regard to the general financial framework, will have a key role to play.
Kristopher Rikken