Federal Minister Ilse Aigner travels to Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia
Federal Minister of Agriculture Ilse Aigner has paid official visits to Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. The Federal Minister’s visits featured meetings with Prime Ministers Valdis Dombrovskis (Latvia) and Andrius Kubilius (Lithuania) and bilateral talks with fellow Agriculture Ministers Janis Duklavs (Latvia), Kazys Starkevicius (Lithuania) and Helir-Valdor Seeder (Estonia). The talks focused on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in Europe after 2013.
Federal Minister Ilse Aigner and Agriculture Minister Janis Duklavs (Latvia), Source: BMELV
Germany has close and friendly relations with the three Baltic States, and this is equally true regarding agriculture. "It is important that we know about, and understand, the situation in the other European Member States and then work together to develop a concept for future agricultural policy. During this opinion-forming process, I am interested in learning about the particular concerns of the smaller Member States. We know that the negotiations on the future European agricultural policy will conclude with the Member States reaching a compromise. It is our task to work together to achieve a result that is acceptable to everyone," said Aigner.
Federal Minister Ilse Aigner and Lithuanian Agriculture Minister Kazys Starkevicius, Source: Lithuanian Agricultural Ministry
"Having good relations and dialogue with our European partners is important to me, as this is a prerequisite for making the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy fit for the future. In coming years, we will have to set the future course of the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in a number of important areas. European farmers must be more market-orientated than in the past. Other aim are for farmers to become more competitive and to operate sustainably. However, farmers' incomes must continue to be stabilised via direct payments, in order, for example, to cushion the impact of market risks," said Aigner.
Federal Minister Ilse Aigner and estonian Agriculture Minister Helir-Valdor Seeder visiting a dairy farm, Source: BMELV
"In the European Union we are currently in the process of forming opinions on how to further develop the CAP; engaging in close dialogue with our neighbours is of crucial importance to this process. Our experience shows that, with mutual understanding and an open and friendly exchange of opinion, you are often half-way towards reaching an agreement."
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