Slovakia has yet to see agreement or satisfaction with the European Union’s new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), Agriculture Minister Richard Takáč (Smer-SD) said Wednesday evening in Brussels after meeting with EU agriculture ministers and three European Commissioners. The discussions focused on the future of European agriculture and food security, with ministers given the opportunity to voice their positions on CAP financing within the upcoming multiannual financial framework. “There is still no agreement or satisfaction with the new Common Agricultural Policy. Even in agreements with third countries, there are questions, which is why we continue to demand concrete steps and solutions from the European Commission,” Takáč explained. He added that for Slovakia, the Mercosur agreement is less of a problem than the trade deal with Ukraine, which sets very high quotas for certain commodities.
Takáč criticized recent proposals from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, which suggested that member states could access some agricultural funds from the 2028–2034 EU budget earlier, totaling €45 billion. He said ministers “learned nothing new” from her letter and that the sector receives no additional support. “The President only talks about accessing funds sooner. We can move them elsewhere, but she does not say we will get more money, that we can be flexible, or that the Common Agricultural Policy will be fully independent with a first and second pillar. It’s more of a smokescreen,” Takáč said.
The minister emphasized three key priorities for Slovakia: capping direct payments, ensuring fair allocation of funds (Slovakia currently receives 82% of the direct payments of older member states, with external convergence disappearing), and maintaining the inclusion of the food and wine sectors in CAP rather than moving them to the industrial budget. Taking inflation into account, Takáč warned that Slovakia could see a 20% reduction in resources for its agricultural sector, a concern given the EU’s increased defense spending. He stressed the need for adequate financing and reduced bureaucracy to remain competitive and food self-sufficient.
Regarding trade agreements, Slovakia also demands protective mechanisms for EU farmers. In the case of Ukraine, Takáč called for a special fund to compensate farmers if imports harm the domestic sector. “We all requested, and it was repeatedly stated, that standards applying in the EU—limits on pesticides, fertilizers, and banned products—must also apply to imports from third countries. We do not want delays of two, three, or four years. We demand these rules be enforced immediately when agreements come into effect,” Takáč concluded.
Source: TASR
