Following an agreement reached on April 28 with Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia, the European Commission unveiled a €100 million proposal aimed at supporting farmers in these five member states. The move underscores the EU’s commitment to stabilizing agricultural livelihoods in border regions affected by shifts in trade patterns and the ongoing disruptions linked to Ukrainian imports.
Package details
The proposed amount, drawn from the 2023 agricultural reserve, will be directed toward cereal and oilseed producers in the five countries. The funding is intended to help offset the headwinds faced by farmers, including market imbalances and increased competition from Ukrainian agricultural and food products that have entered EU markets in recent times.
Alongside the financial support, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia have pledged to remove unilateral restrictions on wheat, maize, rapeseed, sunflower seeds and other Ukrainian-origin products, signaling a coordinated approach to trade and market access. This dual track aims to shield affected farming sectors while preserving a path toward normal trade relations within the EU framework.
The Commission has outlined specific allocations: €9.77 million for Bulgaria, €15.93 million for Hungary, €39.33 million for Poland, €29.73 million for Romania and €5.24 million for Slovakia. These figures reflect a targeted distribution designed to address the needs of each country based on farm size, production profiles, and exposure to imports from Ukraine.
In addition to national support, member states may supplement the EU contribution up to 200 percent, potentially increasing total financial backing for farmers affected by the measures to €300 million. This flexibility intends to strengthen the resilience of agricultural communities while preserving market stability across the region.
There’s another vote
The Commission’s proposal was discussed with representatives from the Member States at a meeting of the Committee for the Common Organization of Agricultural Markets. All member states will vote on the proposal at the next committee session. If approved, the measure will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and would enter into force the day after publication, enabling the five named countries to implement the plan without delay. This process reflects the EU’s emphasis on timely responses to evolving market conditions and the needs of farmers along its eastern and southern borders.
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olk/PAP
Source: wPolityce