Change to the interpretation guidelines for aid for livestock production in Finland 2022
23.12.2021
Priority question for written answer P-005713/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Elsi Katainen (Renew)
The Finnish system for the payment of coupled animal premiums was reported to the European Commission for the first time in 2014. Monitoring undertaken by the Commission did not result in any proposals for changes to the system before 2021 at the time, nor have there been any such proposals since. At the end of September, the more detailed interpretation guidelines in the current regulations came so late that producers were unable to adapt their production to the changing systems.
The profitability crisis in agriculture has shown how vulnerable agricultural enterprises are when faced with unexpected changes in their operating environment. The new guidelines on aid in the form of animal premiums mean that many livestock farms are in danger of losing a large part of their income, and that poses a threat to Finnish livestock production. Already the profitability crisis has led to a lot of farms planning to stop production.
It is hard to understand why the change applies to 2022 only, as the entire agricultural policy aid system is to be reassessed at the start of 2023. It will not be long before the old programming period ends and the new one begins, and so from the farmer’s point of view it is administratively untenable and unreasonable to introduce a new system for one year only. Such speedy and major changes to aid policy will do much to erode the trust farmers have in EU institutions.
- 1.How does the Commission intend to ensure that farmers are able to produce food profitably everywhere in Europe and that their legal protection is respected?
- 2.Could the Commission consider the possibility of a transitional period of a year until the new animal premium system takes effect, so that it may be introduced together with the new programming period for agricultural policy as from the start of 2023?