– We are determined and we sustain our position to maintain a strong, two-pillar CAP structure with a separate budget, which will provide farmers with the stability of production and fair competition. But we also need separate money from the EU budget for the development of rural areas and the implementation of new road and sewage investment projects as well as the faster Internet, expected by rural residents – said Minister Stefan Krajewski before the meeting.

Today’s debate of the EU Ministers of Agriculture and Fisheries, chaired by Jacob Jensen, Danish Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, are also dedicated to the issues of trade agreements, including the strengthening of EU-Ukraine relations, fishing rules and opportunities in the Atlantic and North Sea in the years 2026, 2027 and 2028 as well as fishing opportunities in the Mediterranean and Black Sea in 2026.

– I would like to remind you very clearly about the need to take into account the Polish agricultural sector’s vulnerability in the negotiations conducted at the level of EU trade agreements and the need to introduce effective protective mechanisms that will allow to provide a level playing field. The adaptation of the import requirements to the EU standards is essential for any trade agreement – announced Minister Krajewski.

Let us remind that in recent months, agricultural communities have been particularly worried about agreements with Ukraine and Mercosur countries. Poland accepted the agreement with Ukraine, while maintaining the demand for monitoring the import and readiness to potentially support farmers in the event of market distortion. At the same time, Poland sustains its negative position on the EU-Mercosur agreement.

– With concern, we are looking at the market for sugar, and on the other hand, beef and poultry that could come from Mercosur countries and distort market relations. That is why safeguard clauses and brake mechanisms are so important, so are bigger funds for the protection of the interests of Polish farmers. We should observe the market and every situation that emerges so that the problem that we had when the Polish market had been flooded with cereals from Ukraine does not recur. I am glad that many Member States are of similar opinion. I also hope that the motion initiated by MEP Krzysztof Hetman will be sufficient endorsed in the European Parliament, will be referred to the Court of Justice, and that we will be able to postpone the signing of the agreement for several years, which can be used to negotiate even better conditions for the agricultural sector – said Minister Stefan Krajewski before the commencement of the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council’s meeting, having previously participated in a special meeting of the Ministers of Agriculture from the Member States associated in the EPP Group, the largest faction in the European Parliament.