Below is the full text of MEP Valdemar Tomaševski:
Mr President,
the Common Agricultural Policy regulation, which we are now considering, should first of all promote the development of rural areas and support the European Agricultural Fund, which could help to reduce the imbalance in agriculture between the so called old and new Union. The CAP has to become a broader element of the policy, which would promote the development in the sector. We have to oppose any decisions that would threaten the local agricultural producers who are the base of agriculture in Central and Eastern Europe, especially in such countries as Lithuania. We should also separate direct payments from production, as this will provide equal trade opportunities for agricultural products from the new EU member states in relative to much longer subsidized farmers from the old "fifteen". The regulation lacks a clear reference to the multi annual financial framework, which should include a specific declaration concerning the ending of unequal direct payments to farmers in the new member states. The payments appear to be several times higher in Western Europe. There is no rational justification to sanction the existing disparities in agricultural financing; these disparities create an artificial division into Europe of two speeds in agricultural development. This is not only unfair, but also reduces our competitiveness in agriculture. But our main aim should be to align the level of development between the members of the community. An unequal treatment of farmers should be definitely over in the near future.
The decisions developed in the Agricultural Committee of the EP mean gradual increase of subsidies for countries from Central-Eastern Europe, including Lithuania. The amount of payments for any state of the Union should not be smaller than 72 per cent of the EU average in 2020. In case of Lithuania it would mean the gradual increase of about 150 litas per one hectare. It is worth underlining that MEP Tomaševski repeatedly requested to increase the minimum payments to 90 per cent of EU average in his amendments.
After the entry of the European Parliament's amendments there will be changes in the CAP funding, i.e. more focus will be put on smaller farms; this will allow countries such as Lithuania to use aid funds in a more efficient way. Moreover, these decisions will strengthen agricultural cooperatives' activities, especially agricultural production, which is very important for Lithuania, where agricultural cooperatives are not fully developed yet.
Lithuania has 12 MEPs in the European Parliament. One Lithuanian MEP – Valdemar Tomaševski - is working in the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee.
