Estonia to seek pan-European agricultural support package
Estonia will call for a pan-European aid package for the agricultural sector, first and foremost emergency aid for the pork and milk industries, at the EU's Agriculture and Fisheries Council (AGRIFISH) meeting on Monday.
Speaking at the Riigikogu's EU Affairs Committee session on Friday, Estonian Minister of Rural Affairs Urmas Kruuse said that the agricultural sector is in a difficult situation throughout the entire EU.
"The long-term solution is not additional subsidies, but rather more active sales," Kruuse said in a press release. "The European Commission (EC) is supporting European farmers in the search for new markets with 110 million euros this year. At the same time, it must be admitted that finding markets and getting adapted to the market situation takes time, therefore we need a pan-European aid package for the agricultural sector."
The minister said that in AGRIFISH, Estonia will support emergency targeted aid for pork and milk producers in the most affected regions.
Estonia also wants to see the application of pan-European measures motivating farmers to reduce overproduction. "Of course reductions in dairy herd numbers have to be taken into consideration where they have already occurred," added Kruuse.
The ministerial council will be convened in Brussels on July 18.
Editor: Editor: Aili Sarapik
Source: BNS
