Irish farmers raise alarm about subsidies. RMF FM's findings are confirmed

The Irish Farmers' Union and an organization associating farmers from mountainous areas and with difficult farming conditions are demanding a change to EU provisions. It's about the so-called LFA, i.e. areas with natural or other specific limitations. Irish farmers want Member States to be obliged to pay this money, not just able to do so. According to the Irish Farmers Journal, the Irish program of these payments is worth over EUR 210 million. Organizations announce a campaign to defend subsidies, also in Brussels.

The issue is particularly hot in Ireland. Agreement on the EU Council's position was reached on October 26, during the Irish Presidency. The meeting was chaired by the Irish Minister of Agriculture. Now farmers from his own country are holding him accountable for the solution he has adopted.

RMF FM was the first to draw attention to this exact problem.

In the European Commission's project, Member States were to be obliged to provide LFA subsidies. In the position of the EU Council, which Poland also agreed to, the provision was changed: instead of "they must" there is "may".

Subsidies have not been eliminated, but their future will depend on the decisions of subsequent governments. As former EU Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski told RMF FM, farmers will be at the "mercy and disfavor of their member states".

The structure of the future EU budget also increases uncertainty, where farmers' needs will compete for funds with other state priorities.

Minister Stefan Krajewski accused RMF FM of scaring farmers. He assured that as long as he is responsible for the ministry and the current coalition is in power, money for Polish farmers "is and will be." Meanwhile, in the official statement published on the same day, the Ministry of Agriculture no longer gives such a clear guarantee. He only writes that maintaining LFA subsidies in 2028-2034 is "being considered":

"The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development recognizes the importance of LFA support for farms located in areas with unfavorable economic conditions. Therefore, maintaining this type of support is being considered as part of work on solutions for the next financial perspective 2028-2034."

This shows that the future of LFA subsidies remains uncertain. RMF FM did not claim that farmers would lose this money. However, we pointed out that from 2028, farmers will not have an EU guarantee that support will be paid throughout the period 2028-2034, regardless of who will be in power at that time. And we stand by our findings.