Belgian Agriculture Minister David Clarinval met with farmers outside the Council walls to address their concerns about the current state of agriculture in Europe. During his speech, Clarinval highlighted the progress that had been made during the last Council meeting, specifically in regards to administrative simplification.
He went on to discuss measures that could increase income and provide greater flexibility in the common agricultural policy. Clarinval expressed hope for an agreement with the European Parliament to ensure competitiveness and fair remuneration for farmers.
One of the main issues discussed was introducing greater flexibility in winter coverage and crop rotations, as well as establishing a price observatory with thresholds for price responsiveness. Additionally, trade measures against Russian cereals were mentioned as part of the discussions.
Clarinval emphasized the importance of ongoing dialogue and collaboration in the weeks leading up to the European elections to ensure a positive outcome for all stakeholders involved in the agricultural sector. He stated that supporting European agriculture and food sovereignty is crucial and fair compensation must be provided to farmers to achieve this goal.