We need new leadership in Brussels that does not put the interests of non-EU countries before those of its own farmers, and that can take real action to protect European farmers. This is what is at stake in the European Parliament elections on June 9," said the Agriculture Minister.
According to István Nagy, free trade agreements are generally beneficial for the EU economy, but it is always agriculture that suffers the disadvantages of such agreements.
He stressed that the position of farmers in the food chain must be strengthened, and the most suitable and appropriate agreements and contractual conditions for this are those that guarantee their production.
"It must be stated that all food and agricultural products placed on the market in the European Union must be subject to the same production and quality parameters," the minister said.
Commenting on the changes in EU agricultural policy after 2027, István Nagy said that the measures taken so far do not address several major problems. He said that the "incredibly extreme" green ideology has taken hold of the European agricultural economy at the expense of the competitiveness of European farmers.
He added that the Hungarian presidency of the European Union, which will begin its six-month term on July 1, would put proposals on the table that could restore sustainable and competitive processes.
"Farmers must be put back at the heart of agricultural policy. The contribution of the agricultural sector to the fight against climate change must be defined in a way that respects the fact that European farmers guarantee food security for all EU citizens," he said. "We need to put forward proposals that will reassure farmers and give them a perspective that will allow them to plan for the future with confidence."