Europe’s farming unions, Copa-Cogeca, have welcomed the “strong support” given by EU farm ministers not to cut EU agriculture expenditure next year.
Meeting in Brussels on Monday, farm ministers’ agreed by a “vast majority” that the European Commission’s budget cut proposals do not meet the needs of the agricultural sector, given that so many sectors are under pressure due to the impact of the Russian ban.
Welcoming the decision as a “step in the right direction”, Copa-Cogeca secretary-general, Pekka Pesonen, said: “I am pleased that ministers oppose the proposal to cut support in the EU agriculture sector in the 2015 budget at this difficult time.”
Having highlighted the plight of Europe’s pig producers in the run-up to Monday’s meeting, Mr Pesonen urged EU Commissioners to “agree not to cut EU farm support in 2015” during their next debate, which is scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday).Â