Representatives of farmers' organizations will update the unified strategy for defending Latvia's interests in Brussels when meeting with the Prime Minister

On Wednesday, November 14, representatives of Latvian farmers' organizations will meet with Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis and Minister of Agriculture Laimdota Straujumas to update Latvia's unified strategy on the issue of European Union direct payments ahead of the EU summit scheduled for November 22-23. The meeting of EU heads of state taking place in Brussels is specifically dedicated to reviewing the EU's multiannual budget for 2014-2020.

Latvian farmers' organizations, together with Estonian and Lithuanian farmers, have been united in a joint campaign for a whole year to ensure that the level of EU direct payments for the Baltic countries is at least 801% of the average in the European Union. Before the summit scheduled for next week, Baltic farmers have launched a large-scale protest action, during which a Soviet tractor will travel from Tallinn to Brussels, including stops in Valmiera and Riga. Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian farmers will also travel to Brussels on November 22 to protest against the unequal EU direct payment policy alongside the tractor. Representatives of the farmers' organizations indicate that, in addition to public and protest activities, it is equally important to discuss Latvia's position with Latvian officials who will participate in the decision-making in Brussels, as well as to coordinate mutual actions to achieve a common goal, therefore they are pleased with the opportunity to meet with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Agriculture.

Farmers' organizations will be represented by Edgars Treibergs, Chairman of the Farmers' Organizations Cooperation Council (LOSP), LOSP board members Aija Balode, Agita Hauka, Gustavs Norkārklis, Chairman of the Farmers' Assembly (ZSA) Juris Lazdiņš, Deputy Chairman of the ZSA Maira Dzelzkalēja, Chairman of the Latvian Agricultural Cooperatives Association (LLKA) Indulis Jansons and LLKA board member Uldis Krievārs. The meeting will take place on Wednesday, November 14 at 4:30 PM in the Prime Minister's Hall.