The competent authorities of the European Union have accepted Hungary’s application for compensation with relation to the product extraction made necessary as a result of the German E.coli stomach flu epidemic – announced State Secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development in charge of Agricultural Economy György Czerván in Brussels following the meeting of the Agriculture Council.

Hungary lodged an application for compensation with regard to 4849 tons of sweet peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes and lettuce for a total sum approaching 1.5 million Euros. At the meeting, the Hungarian delegation declared its support for the proposal according to which if the total sum of compensation applications from all Member States exceeds 210 million Euros, then the European Commission should raise the pre-defined budget instead of applying a so-called redistribution rate.

György Czerván stated: there is a need for further discussions and verification with regard to claims lodged in the case of four Member States, and so for the moment it is unknown if the available budget will be adequate.
At the meeting, Commissioner for Agriculture Dacian Cioloş informed those present that the situation on the markets has improved further during the past few weeks. The price of cucumbers and sweet peppers reached the average recorded price level for the last three years by June, and the price of tomatoes and lettuce varieties only remained below that level because of the adverse weather. The quantitative level of marketed produce has also returned to normal for all intents and purposes.

The European Commission is launching a campaign this week to promote vegetables within the Member States, and has assigned a 15 million euro budget for this purpose. György Czerván reminded those present that the European Commission had recently launched a series of consultations aimed at improving the image of European agricultural products in order to promote foodstuffs produced within the Union. Hungary agrees with the approach according to which it is the quality of European products that should be primarily emphasised – he stressed, also noting that Hungary would like to dedicate the greatest attention to local markets and the promotion of local products.

György Czerván also spoke about the fact that Hungary is supporting the current Polish Presidency’s programme, which the State Secretary termed ambitious. Several of those who took the floor during the meeting recurrently expressed their appreciation for the work achieved during the “Hungarian six-month period”, so for example the chairman of the meeting Marek Sawicki voiced his hope that the Polish Presidency would be equally successful.

The Hungarian State Secretary noted that many of the elements of the Polish programme are built on the foundations realised by its predecessor. The programme aims to further strengthen the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which in turn serves the interests of both the community and the individual Member States, as well as contributing to the sustainable development of the agricultural and fisheries sectors and to enhanced security of income – as György Czerván put it.

The meeting was also the first opportunity to discuss the Council Conclusions on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. It is very important for Hungary that the new draft policy should provide a greater role for freshwater fish farming, which it would handle separately. The plans justify the maintaining, development and promotion of those fish farming techniques typical to Hungary, as well as the supporting of further innovative efforts. The development of aquatic culture could lead to an increase of production within the European Union for its own, internal markets. In view of its favourable position, Hungary will also be able to contribute to this goal within the field of freshwater fish farming.

(MTI, Press Office of the Ministry of Rural Development)