"Measures are too complex." The European Commission delays the decision to help pig farmers

European ministers of agriculture and the European Commission did not promise financial support to pig producers during the agricultural council, held on Monday, January 17th. This was reported on January 19 by the Dutch portal Nieuwe Oogst.

The European Union's Special Agricultural Committee, composed of high-ranking officials from member states, has been tasked with finding ways out of the crisis in this sector.

During the European Council, Czech Minister of Agriculture Zdeněk Nekula asked the European Commission for exceptional support measures. The minister pointed to the effects of African swine fever, coupled with a deteriorating market environment due to lower demand from China, the effects of the coronavirus pandemic and rising feed and energy prices.

Flanders MEP Tom Vandenkdelaer had also previously asked in a letter for direct European Union financial support for pig producers. The Dutch organization of agriculture and horticulture, which brings together more than 35,000 agricultural entrepreneurs LTO Nederland and the Pork Producers' Organization, called on Dutch MEPs to sign his letter.

These requests for support were approved by more than 20 EU member states, but European Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski made no commitment, saying that taking action at the European level is difficult.

“The vast majority of pig production in Europe is concentrated in a limited number of producers,” Wojciechowski explained. “Outbreaks of African swine fever are putting particular pressure on the European domestic market because third countries are closing their borders to pork from countries where the animal disease is prevalent.”