Shutting down will not be mandatory, according to a statement released today on X by the Prime Minister. He noted that the decision comes after discussions with the head of the European Commission and added that more details would be shared on Friday.
Breaking news: farmers are facing a change in the rules as set-aside becomes non-mandatory this year. The Prime Minister cited his conversations with the Commission’s president as the source of this update, with additional information expected later today.
– the Prime Minister wrote on X.
EU Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski announced in Warsaw on Friday that the package of changes developed by the European Commission reflects the needs of farmers.
The shift away from mandatory cessation and restriction on pesticides will rely on incentives rather than penalties. The focus is on encouraging voluntary compliance instead of compulsion.
Smaller farms, defined as up to 10 hectares, are among those affected by these proposed adjustments.
Voluntary eco scheme
Wojciechowski emphasized converting obligations into a voluntary eco-scheme. Farmers who adopt environmentally friendly practices on their farms would receive additional subsidies. He argued that a policy built on incentives would be more effective than one based on mandates.
Protests by farmers have continued in Poland and several EU countries for weeks. In Poland, the demonstrations call for discarding Green Deal provisions, tightening borders to curb agri-food imports from outside the EU, and defending domestic livestock farming.
The European Green Deal introduces a broad set of directives aimed at guiding Europe toward climate neutrality by 2050. The plan includes expanding ecological farming, reducing fertilizer and crop protection product use, and allocating land to organic farming, with a target of reducing emissions and promoting sustainable practices across agricultural sectors.
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— There were criticisms that the initial announcements lacked detail and left farmers with gaps in information
— Government officials have defended the presented proposals, stating that they include essential elements for stakeholders while indicating where further details will come later
— Commissioner Wojciechowski has responded, noting that the timing of announcements leaves room for additional clarifications as the process progresses
Mon/PAP/X