Proposal to hold a meeting of the Ministers for Agriculture and Fisheries of the European People’s Party (2) in Greece, before the European elections, in order to coordinate their action, in view of the changes in the CFP, the Minister for Rural Development and Food, presented at the meeting of the relevant Ministers of the PPE that took place this morning (26.3.2024) in Brussels. The PPE meeting was preceded by a meeting of the EUMED-9 Group last night (25.3.2024). Lefteris Avgenakis pointed out to his counterparts that they must have a specific framework of actions by noting features: “We are politicians and not a think-tank. We need to think about how the positions we receive will strengthen the EP so that there is a single political discourse, strong voice and unity in the face of European elections.” He added: “The European People’s Party and we, the centre-right governments, are the realistic voice of European farmers. This should be understood by actions, initiatives and results. ” At the same time, he stressed that the changes that the PPE is attempting to put into the common agricultural policy and which create problems in the sustainability of farmers are changes in policies that imposed governments that participated in socialists. The Greek Minister suggested that his counterparts make joint visits to all the Member States as ministers of the ERP, “to convey the message of our policy and proposals and to demonstrate our unity in the face of elections.” He also suggested a meeting of the ministers of the European People’s Party in Greece before the elections. As the Greek minister said “last week the Heads of State met and discussed agricultural products but we Agriculture Ministers are burdened with finding solutions for farmers. That is why I call on you in today’s Council to do everything we can to change the Rules of Procedure” and reiterated the four changes proposed by our country, which are required to be approved by the EU Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers. To allocate 2% of the annual CAP budget to deal with climate crises for specific aid following climate disasters. To give flexibility to Member States to be able to modify the CFP Strategic Plan and transfer resources between the two Pillars or from year to year. Exemption from controls from the application of environmental standards for farms up to 100 acres. At the same time, the application of the ‘Good Agricultural Environmental Condition Standards’ is based on realistic climatic conditions – productive conditions of each Member State (subsidiarity). There should be flexibility in the implementation of so-called ecological schemes and flexibility of derogations in their implementation where necessary. Eco-forms must be simple in their application without requiring bureaucratic procedures to be activated complex by the activation of technical consultants. In his intervention the Greek minister welcomed his Polish counterpart, as Minister of Agriculture took over the centre-right Czesław Siekierski. After the meeting, YPAAT Lefteris Avgenakis said: “Following the initiatives of the heads of the Member States and of course our Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis last week, we too continue at the level of Agriculture and Fisheries. The PPE meeting has been completed, the EUMED meeting has been completed, alliances we are using to a maximum extent, so that our country’s 19 proposals will be strengthened even more and gain more allies. Europe is certainly moving slowly. It is certain that its rhythms and reflexes do not respond to the problems of European farmers. But we as a country are determined to move with all our forces, so that any issues that can be corrected in the current CFP 23-27 before the European elections can be corrected immediately without delay. In this direction, my presence today in the Council of Ministers is also moving. This is how we will go, so we will try, through the alliances we have created, or that we maintain and strengthen to achieve what is best for Greek and European farmers. In this effort, of course, we will also move in tune for the next CFP, which in about a year’s time begins the debate and may seem to come a little earlier. We do not miss an opportunity to use all the data to achieve the best of Greek and European farmers.”
Farmers: The Government’s 4 proposals at the meeting of European Agriculture Ministers
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