A delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture headed by Minister Sándor Fazekas will be participating in the International green Week (IGW) agriculture exhibition in Berlin, where Mr. Fazekas is expected to discuss the new EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and other current policy issues with ministers from 16 foreign countries on the sidelines of the event.

After last year's appearance as partner country last year, this year Hungary will again be represented by a representative stand at the International Green Week (Grunge Woche) agriculture expo in Berlin, which will officially open this evening. The event is traditionally accompanied by a high-level agrarian meeting and several professional events. Hungary's most important agricultural market is Germany, so it is especially important for our country to participate every year at the world's largest consumer fair, which will be attended by state leaders from some 65 countries.

During the negotiations, Mr. Fazekas will be discussing a topic that could determine the future of Hungarian agriculture, the post-2020 funding system of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). While consistently representing Hungary’s existing position and as a representative of Hungary’s current Presidency of the Visegrád Group (V4), Mr. Fazekas will be arguing in favour of maintaining the current level of EU agricultural subsidies and their current balance within the EU budget. This is essential to enable farmers to continue to supply the European market and consumers with large quantities of high quality food at a favourable prices.

Hungary opposes new goals that independent of agriculture, such as the financing of migration from the CAP budget, and agricultural funding should continue to be granted to farmers. Furthermore, the CAP must be able to handle the agrarian crisis situations flexibly. The income security of family farms, and small and medium-sized agricultural holdings must continue to be supported by a well-established set of instruments for direct subsidies, which we hope will be further simplified, while funding to be withdrawn from large farms should be devoted to the development, modernisation and investment of these facilities. The Berlin International Green Week is an excellent opportunity for discussions with states outside the European Union, as the expo will also be attended by high-level guests from some of the world's most remote countries.

(Ministry of Agriculture Press Office)