Farmers in the Baltic States will fight together for support for their region

The Baltic States should be granted a special buffer zone status and appropriate support for farmers suffering losses from Russian sanctions and the worsening veterinary situation due to African swine fever. A letter with these and several other demands was agreed to be prepared and sent to EU institutions and the media by September 3 by farmers' organizations from Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

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At a meeting of Baltic farmers' organizations held today, an agreement was reached that a letter will be coordinated and jointly signed within the next week, demanding the application of buffer zone status to the Baltic States and the establishment of a special fund, the task of which would be to help solve the economic problems arising from political disagreements between the EU and Russia.

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The need for special status will be justified by concrete facts about price fluctuations in the dairy, meat and vegetable sectors in the Baltic States compared to the rest of the EU, production costs and the significantly lower level of EU direct payment support. Farmers want the EU to compensate for the losses that occur in a crisis situation between the cost of production of a particular product and the market price. They will also demand the introduction of intervention in the dairy sector, the restoration of export compensation to third countries, the abolition of fines in case of exceeding the milk quota, as well as the establishment of a Baltic States buffer zone fund to cover the costs of finding new markets.

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Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Association "Farmers' Council" Maira Dzelzkalėja: "A couple of years ago, when all 3 Baltic states fought for fair direct payments, we proved that together we can help achieve more favorable decisions for the region. Our cooperation continues, and now we have agreed on further steps to mitigate the losses caused by the food embargo imposed by Russia. I believe that the EU has not developed sufficient mechanisms that would quickly help stabilize the market in such situations, therefore, together with representatives of Lithuania and Estonia, we will call on Europe to learn from the examples of countries that have such mechanisms in place in order to eliminate the consequences of the crisis as quickly and effectively as possible."

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Member of the Board of the Latvian Agricultural Cooperatives Association Uldis Krievārs: "This is the second crisis in the last ten years and it is time for us to draw conclusions about what action should be taken. Support is needed not only for compensation, which brings benefits in the short term, but also for diversifying markets and producing higher value-added products, which would be a long-term investment."

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Armands Krauze, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Cooperation Council of Farmers' Organizations for EU Affairs and External Relations: "During the meeting, we realized that the situation regarding the Russian crisis in the Baltic States is very similar. It is pleasing that the Latvian government, unlike neighboring countries, has reacted the fastest. The result of the negotiations is very good, because we jointly decided to appeal to the European Commission to help the Baltic States directly."

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Representative of the Lithuanian Association of Agricultural Cooperatives Mindaugas Maculēvičs: "This is the time when we, the farmers of the Baltic States, need to speak together. We need to make our demands known to both the EU Commissioner for Agriculture, Dacan Ciolos, and the EU media working in Brussels. If necessary, we can also decide on a joint action, because we already have the experience."

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Meanwhile, a representative of the Latvian Farmers' Federation Early Way points out that farmers in the Baltic States currently need to demand quick decision-making from the EU.

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Farmers from the Baltic States will also jointly assess further developments after sending the letter and agreed to meet again on September 19 in Vilnius.

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Today's meeting was attended by representatives of the Latvian Farmers' Saeima, the Cooperation Council of Farmers' Organizations, the Latvian Association of Agricultural Cooperatives, and the Latvian Farmers' Federation. From Estonia, the Estonian Chamber of Agriculture and Commerce, and from Lithuania, representatives of the Lithuanian Chamber of Agriculture and the Lithuanian Association of Agricultural Cooperatives.