Why does the European Commission oppose aid to pig production?

Last week, most of the committee's political groups sent a letter to the Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski, asking the European Commission to take "immediate initiatives aimed at alleviating the negative situation and foreseeing serious shocks in the pig sector."

In response to this request, the Commissioner explained why the Commission was opposed and replied that although 13 Member States had invited market events, 7 Member States, including major producing countries such as Germany, Spain, Italy, Denmark The Netherlands, Sweden and Finland, which account for nearly two-thirds of EU pig production, have not asked for market-based measures.

Wojciechowski argued for state aid to be an effective tool, citing examples such as the current aid package launched last week by France totaling 270 million euros and that of Poland, which announced an 88 million euro state aid package.

The Commissioner also stressed that 13 Member States had invited Article 219 - measures against market shocks, but noted that urgent and fast measures in 2022 should be realistically funded by mobilizing part of the agricultural crisis reserve of 497.3 million euros, subject to approval European Parliament and Council. Therefore, this amount cannot be reimbursed to farmers in 2023. In the end, the farmers will finance the activities.