Hungarian Farmers Protest EU Membership for Ukraine
Leaders of Hungarian agricultural organizations express strong opposition to Ukraine's potential accession to the European Union amid concerns over agricultural support.
Jakab István, president of the Hungarian Association of Farmers and Cooperatives (MAGOSZ), announced on Friday in Brussels that Hungary firmly opposes Ukraine's accession to the European Union while it continues to receive pre-accession funding.
He emphasized that such arrangements could jeopardize Hungarian farmers, stating, "We have received alarming news from Brussels." Cseh Tibor András, vice president of the National Chamber of Agriculture (NAK), echoed these sentiments, noting that recent proposals from Brussels necessitated a response to safeguard the interests of Hungarian farmers.
Jakab highlighted ongoing discussions in Brussels concerning the reallocation of agricultural support funds, which had previously been stable, towards Ukraine, significantly impacting neighboring countries' agricultural sectors in light of the ongoing war.
He underscored that Ukrainian grain has flooded the European market, creating untenable conditions for local farmers.
The integration of Ukrainian agriculture into the EU without sufficient oversight and regulation poses risks to food security, according to Jakab.
"We reject the unacceptable conditions that Brussels seeks to impose on farmers," Jakab stated.
He criticized Brussels bureaucrats for proposing long-term programs that disregard the immediate needs of farmers, who do not operate within five- or seven-year political cycles but rather plan for the long term.
He called for a coherent agricultural policy developed in conjunction with farmers, rather than misleading promises.
In response to the current foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, Jakab expressed a need for appropriate support and resources from the European Union to help countries effectively manage the situation.
Cseh stressed that upcoming proposals from the European Commission for the seven-year term starting in 2028 aim to overhaul the land-based agricultural support system, potentially reducing or eliminating it, and similarly seek to diminish livestock farming and meat consumption, which Hungarian farmers find unacceptable.
Cseh noted that two-thirds of Hungarian agricultural land is operated by individual and family farms, which would face severe setbacks if these proposals were implemented.
In light of these concerns, MAGOSZ and NAK have initiated a petition to maintain agricultural support, which has garnered the support of over a quarter of a million Hungarian farmers.
Cseh expressed hope that the European Commission would realign agricultural policy to elevate the importance of agriculture as a strategic sector once again.
He further reminded that large agricultural estates in Ukraine, primarily owned by Western European and American interests, pose a significant competitive disadvantage if they gain access to European markets.
This situation could result in clear detriment for Hungarian farmers.
Cseh concluded by stating that the voice of Hungarian farmers was brought to Brussels to emphasize these critical issues.
He emphasized that such arrangements could jeopardize Hungarian farmers, stating, "We have received alarming news from Brussels." Cseh Tibor András, vice president of the National Chamber of Agriculture (NAK), echoed these sentiments, noting that recent proposals from Brussels necessitated a response to safeguard the interests of Hungarian farmers.
Jakab highlighted ongoing discussions in Brussels concerning the reallocation of agricultural support funds, which had previously been stable, towards Ukraine, significantly impacting neighboring countries' agricultural sectors in light of the ongoing war.
He underscored that Ukrainian grain has flooded the European market, creating untenable conditions for local farmers.
The integration of Ukrainian agriculture into the EU without sufficient oversight and regulation poses risks to food security, according to Jakab.
"We reject the unacceptable conditions that Brussels seeks to impose on farmers," Jakab stated.
He criticized Brussels bureaucrats for proposing long-term programs that disregard the immediate needs of farmers, who do not operate within five- or seven-year political cycles but rather plan for the long term.
He called for a coherent agricultural policy developed in conjunction with farmers, rather than misleading promises.
In response to the current foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, Jakab expressed a need for appropriate support and resources from the European Union to help countries effectively manage the situation.
Cseh stressed that upcoming proposals from the European Commission for the seven-year term starting in 2028 aim to overhaul the land-based agricultural support system, potentially reducing or eliminating it, and similarly seek to diminish livestock farming and meat consumption, which Hungarian farmers find unacceptable.
Cseh noted that two-thirds of Hungarian agricultural land is operated by individual and family farms, which would face severe setbacks if these proposals were implemented.
In light of these concerns, MAGOSZ and NAK have initiated a petition to maintain agricultural support, which has garnered the support of over a quarter of a million Hungarian farmers.
Cseh expressed hope that the European Commission would realign agricultural policy to elevate the importance of agriculture as a strategic sector once again.
He further reminded that large agricultural estates in Ukraine, primarily owned by Western European and American interests, pose a significant competitive disadvantage if they gain access to European markets.
This situation could result in clear detriment for Hungarian farmers.
Cseh concluded by stating that the voice of Hungarian farmers was brought to Brussels to emphasize these critical issues.
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