The Minister of Agriculture of Germany, together with the accompanying delegation, stayed in Poland at the invitation of Minister Czesław Siekierski. The meeting was a continuation of the talks initiated in Berlin this January.

On farmers’ protests

The Ministers of Poland and Germany discussed the demands of farmers, who are currently protesting in many EU Member States. The farmers demand support in stabilising their income, lifting excessive administrative burdens and strict environmental and climate protection requirements, as well as regulating the problem of excessive opening of the EU market to agricultural products from Ukraine, which pose a threat to the competitiveness of the EU’s agricultural sectors

Agricultural products of Ukraine

The Ministers stressed the full support for Ukraine’s accession to the EU and readiness to help transform its economy.

– Poland has been supporting Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian aggression. However, this cannot take place at the expense of farmers from the border countries. We need to separate the issues of help and the issues of the economy – stressed Minister Siekierski.

The Ministers unanimously confirmed that it was necessary to develop tools that would allow to redirect cereals from Ukraine to the markets of countries that need it.

Polish-German cooperation

The Ministers stressed a common view on the current and future challenges of the European agricultural policy.

– I would like more arrangements regarding the future of agriculture to be made at meetings of ministers, not in closed offices of the European Commission. We must also listen to the opinions of farmers, who clearly formulate their demands today – summed up Minister Siekierski.

Visit to the farm

The Ministers visited the family farm of Elżbieta and Wojciech Pysiak in Zdziechów in the Zakrzew commune. Mrs and Mr Pysiak can boast of the title of National Champions of the Agro Liga 2008 in the Farmers category, the title of “Polish Food Producer 2009” and many other prestigious awards and distinctions. In addition to swine breeding, in their own butchery they manufacture highly renowned and recognisable meat products, some of which have been included in the list of traditional products kept by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The Ministers listened to the problems faced by the farmers in Poland. At Mrs and Mr Pysiak’s home, they experienced traditional Polish hospitality at the table and an extremely cordial atmosphere in the multi-generational family.