ZM: simplification and reduction of the administrative burden should be continued to strengthen the agricultural and food sectors – Agriculture

On Monday, April 29, at the Council of Ministers of Agriculture and Fisheries of the EU in Luxembourg, the member states evaluated the measures of the European Commission (EC) for quick response to the current situation in the agricultural sector in the EU. In the debate, the Minister of Agriculture, Armands Krauze, called on the EC to review and increase the de minimis support ceiling of state aid for the agricultural sector, so that this instrument could be adequately used for the short-term financing needs of the sector. Currently, too low and restrictive limits for receiving state support are set in de minimis agriculture. Such a proposal is supported by the majority of EU member states. This would be a very necessary decision for the promotion of agricultural economic activity.

The Minister of Agriculture also continued to call on the EC to reduce the administrative burden on farmers, which is currently imposed by the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the Member States’ Strategic Plans 2023-2027 based on it. for the year. In order to strengthen the EU’s agricultural and food sectors, it is necessary to review and reduce the many conditions that have been unthinkingly imposed on member states in recent years. For example, the newly introduced system of social conditions should be abolished, which is an inadequate additional administrative burden, because controls in the field of employment in relation to agricultural workers in Latvia are already carried out in full without additional efforts of the CAP. Farmers and food producers in the EU should only apply enforceable requirements with real added value. At the same time, the next step must be adequate funding to support EU producers to maintain high standards and remain competitive in the market.

Member States also discussed in the Council the impact of International Trade Agreements with third countries on EU farmers and food producers. The minister emphasized that agreements with third countries must be balanced and take into account the EU’s long-term interests, especially in the agricultural sector. Minister of Agriculture Armands Krauze:Unfortunately, European Union producers are placed in an unequal situation with the high welfare, as well as environmental and climate requirements, compared to producers from third countries. This is pronounced in the grain and livestock industries, especially in poultry. Due to these requirements, it is difficult for European Union producers to compete with the production of third countries, where such requirements are much lower. Therefore, measures should be put in place so that European farmers with higher requirements and costs can maintain their position on the market.”

At the suggestion of Latvia, the meeting of the Council of Ministers also considered the issue of the necessary adjustments in the conditions of the Fisheries Control Regulation regarding the limits of the permitted approach to catch, or the difference between the amount of catch estimated at sea and its composition by species, which is recorded in the fishing logbook, compared to the amount weighed and recorded during landing. As the bycatch of these unregulated species is very small, it is extremely difficult for fishermen to visually accurately assess its extent while on board at sea, which is considered a serious offense under the regulation. It is neither proportionate nor adequate. If the problem is not solved, it can dramatically affect the fishing industry of small pelagic fish species in Latvia and also in Lithuania, placing practically all fishermen in the role of potential violators. The Ministry of Agriculture calls for an exception or special provisions for the application of this condition for unregulated species whose by-catch is small in the total catch.

The Ministry of Agriculture