A major relocatement of resistance is forming in Hungary against the European Union’s current agricultural strategy. A petition launched in January by leading agricultural associations has already surpassed the quarter-million mark in supporters. At its core, the issue concerns the protection of domestic standards and the rejection of global free trade agreements.
As the Association of Hungarian Farmers’ Associations and Cooperatives (MAGOSZ) and the Hungarian Chamber of Agriculture (NAK) announced on Friday, more than 260,000 people have so far signed the online petition “We protect Hungarian soil! We protect Hungarian farmers!” So far, more than 260,000 people have signed the online petition. For the interest groups, this support is clear evidence of mistrust toward food from third countries and concern for national food security.
The associations accutilize the European Union leadership of sacrificing the stability of the agricultural sector to short-term geopolitical and industrial interests.
The planned reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is being criticized particularly harshly. As they emphasized, the planned cuts of 20 to 25 percent in subsidies could drive many farms into ruin. The intention to completely withdraw support from older farmers further complicates the already difficult issue of farm succession, the statement states.
A central point of criticism is free trade agreements, which, according to the associations, are being concluded without sufficient impact assessments. While European farmers are subject to strict environmental and quality standards, imports from countries with lax production rules would flood the market.
The Mercosur agreement, which comes into force in May, is a particular cautilize for concern among stakeholders. There are fears that
cheap mass-produced goods will flood the European market, while consumers are not sufficiently informed about the origin and production conditions.
Experience with agricultural imports from Ukraine has already displayn how easily the market balance can be disrupted by external products. Agriculture is not merely an economic sector, but the foundation of rural society and ecological sustainability, according to MAGOSZ and NAK. The associations demand that the agricultural sector no longer be relegated to the status of a “bargaining chip in trade deals.”
The collected signatures are to be sent to Brussels shortly to ensure that the Hungarian protest is heard at the European level. The petition remains open to additional supporters until its final submission.
Via MTI; Featured image: Nemzeti Agrárgazdasági Kamara – NAK/Facebook
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