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The European Commission is preparing to reduce common agricultural subsidies in order to finance the costs of Ukraine’s accession to the EU and the higher repayments on loans taken out earlier, Fidesz MEP Csaba Dömötör told MTI in Strasbourg.
The politician believes that the grand coalition in Brussels is planning a 20 percent reduction in subsidies. In addition, it has been suggested that the agricultural budget be merged into a larger common fund to make the reduction less noticeable.
Csaba Dömötör considers it scandalous that while they want to cover Ukraine’s 6400 billion forint (around 16 billion euros) budget deficit in 2026 with EU money, they are taking resources away from farmers.
He believes this is dangerous because the agreements reached behind closed doors between the EU and Ukraine will further open the market to Ukrainian products, which could put Hungarian farmers at a serious competitive disadvantage, and moreover, override the Hungarian import ban. The representative also pointed out that the Mercosur agreement with South American countries (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay) poses similar market risks.
He criticized the opposition Tisza Party for denying the problem while his fellow party members vote in favor of everything. Dömötör emphasized: “Farmers can only count on the government and the ruling parties to protect agricultural subsidies.” He said that there will be a farmers’ protest in Brussels next week, which Fidesz also supports, and that further demonstrations can be expected if EU policy does not change.
Via MTI; Featured photo: Pexels