400 farmers' bonfires will form the "Baltic Road"

Continuing the fight for fair European Union (EU) direct payments, Baltic farmers will hold a bonfire campaign “Baltic Road” on February 5. Symbolizing the unity of the Baltic States, the main roads Via Baltica Almost 400 bonfires lit by farmers will be placed on the (E-67) access roads.

Maira Dzelzkalēja, Deputy Chairperson of the Farmers' Assembly: "As the next European Council approaches, which will likely decide the fate of the EU's multiannual budget for the next period, we, together with Estonian and Lithuanian farmers, decided to organize a new campaign. The goal of the "Baltic Way" bonfire is to demonstrate to Europe the unity of the Baltic States in negotiations on the EU budget. Considering that the development of the Baltic States requires both a fair agricultural policy and cohesion funding, we have invited other organizations and every resident of Latvia to join."

The Latvian Employers' Confederation (LDDK) also supports the campaign and has also invited the Estonian Employers' Confederation and the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists to join the campaign to demonstrate the unity of the Baltic States with the aim of achieving support for strengthening the competitiveness of the Baltic States in the EU Single Market within the framework of the EU's multiannual budget for 2014-2020.

Līga Menģelsone, Director General of LDDK: “The European Union budget must contribute to the promotion of national competitiveness, economic growth and employment. The EU budget is an essential instrument for overcoming cross-border challenges of the EU Single Market and for equalizing inequalities between developed and less developed EU Member States and regions. This can be achieved by implementing solidarity between the richest and poorest Member States of the European Union with an appropriately proportional distribution of European Union funds. Therefore, for Latvia, together with the other Baltic States, the priority in the negotiations is to achieve Cohesion Policy funding at least in the current amount, which was available in the 2007-2013 period, and equal conditions of competition for all market players, equalizing the differences in direct payments between Member States within the framework of the EU Common Agricultural Policy.”

To ensure that Riga residents, city guests and mass media also have the opportunity to participate in the campaign, a special event will also be held in Riga, at Dome Square. On February 5, at 4:30 p.m., the event, which will bring together farmers, is planned to include speeches by officials, a musical performance and a joint bonfire lighting. Special events dedicated to the bonfire campaign will also take place in Salacgrīva, Saulkrasti, Ķekava, Iecava, Bauska and at border crossings with Estonia and Lithuania.

The campaign is organized by the Latvian Association of Agricultural Cooperatives, the Farmers' Parliament, the Cooperation Council of Farmers' Organizations, and the Latvian Farmers' Federation.

Information prepared and additional information provided by EU Direct Payments Campaign Coordinator Sabīne Puķe, sabine.puke@llka.lv, +371 26340794