EU Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski should do his job instead of making appeals, most of the problems of Polish farmers are the result of his activities – this is how the head of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, Jan Grabiec, referred to Wojciechowski’s letter to Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
Wojciechowski wrote a letter to Prime Minister Donald Tusk regarding public aid in agriculture. He called for the issue of extending the possibility of granting public aid to farmers after June 2024 to be taken up at the EU summit. This mechanism was introduced in the EU after Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
Wojciechowski’s appeal was commented on by the head of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, Jan Grabiec, in an interview with PAP. “Instead of making appeals, Commissioner Wojciechowski should do his job. Most of the problems of Polish farmers are the result of his activities,” he said.
The so-called temporary framework for state aid was adopted two years ago, in March 2022, in connection with the Russian aggression against Ukraine, in order to support economic entities affected by the economic consequences of the war in Ukraine, including farmers. Since May 2022, with the consent of the European Commission, 22 Member States have provided their farmers with public aid for a total amount of approximately EUR 10 billion, including by far the largest amount – approximately EUR 4 billion – from Poland.
“The temporary crisis framework expires in June 2024 and further national aid for farmers in this mode will not be possible. So far, the Commission does not envisage extending this framework (although I requested this extension as part of the internal work of the Commission), and there is no information on this matter initiatives of member states. The lack of public aid for farmers affected by the effects of Russian aggression against Ukraine will make it impossible to continue the absolutely necessary aid. This is a threat, especially to Polish farmers, particularly affected by the effects of this war,” Wojciechowski writes in the letter.
“Mr. Prime Minister, for my part, I am raising this issue as part of the internal work of the Commission, but the voice of Poland is very much needed here, whose farmers are most affected by the economic effects of the war in Ukraine, and which has so far benefited most from the possibility of public aid for farmers “- emphasized Wojciechowski.
