“This is only part of a bigger solution, we are awaiting full implementation,” said Sławomir Izdebski, the chairman of OPZZ Farmers and Agricultural Organizations, in an interview with PAP. He referred to today’s statements from Prime Minister Donald Tusk and EU Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski about changes to the Green Deal rules.
Donald Tusk announced on social media, and Commissioner Wojciechowski clarified that the obligation to fallow land and to restrict pesticide use will not be strictly mandatory. Instead of fines, there will be incentives, and farms up to 10 hectares will be exempt from ecological inspections.
What was announced today feels to some observers like replacing the wheels on an old, stalled tractor while leaving the engine untouched. For now, it represents a partial step forward. It is hoped that when fully carried out, farmers will see that their protests were not in vain. Details and further issues related to the Green Deal nuisance are awaited, according to Izdebski.
– Izdebski added.
PROTESTS WILL CONTINUE
When asked whether the Prime Minister’s and Commissioner’s announcements might quiet the agricultural protests, Izdebski replied that this was unlikely.
He noted that the final completion of reforms would require meeting three postulates, one of which has only recently been proposed. He warned of anticipated protests on March 20 and said it would be interesting to see how things develop next.
– The head of OPZZ spoke. In response to whether relaxing fallow rules was significant, he admitted it was “one of the main points farmers fought for.”
He also commented that the European Commission’s decision not to pursue a forced pesticide reduction was a positive sign, though the impact on demonstrators might not be decisive. Regarding excluding farms of up to 10 hectares from ecological control, Izdebski observed that for many demonstrators this did not carry great weight, since such farms are relatively rare and many owners run larger operations elsewhere.
– a trade union activist.
The discussion also touched on the situation with Ukrainian grain, with Izdebski stressing that a resolution is needed.
He reiterated his proposal to export grain through Polish ports and outlined a mechanism in which farmers would be charged port prices instead of purchase-time prices, with compensation coming from the state budget. He noted that this approach had previously been used during the PiS government and achieved substantial grain exports. No current answer had been provided, and Izdebski emphasized the need to remove quotas and move quickly to resolve the issue.
– the union leader pointed to ongoing talks between the Polish and Ukrainian governments, stating nothing has been proposed to them so far.