Estonian minister asks EU for aid to help farmers hit by rainy summer

TALLINN - Estonian Minister of Regional Affairs and Agriculture Hendrik Johannes Terras has requested support for Estonian farmers affected by this year's rainy summer from the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) agricultural reserve.

The minister met separately with European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Christophe Hansen. Terras gave an overview of the difficult situation in Estonia's crop production sector caused by excessive moisture. The initial estimate of direct damage and lost income stands at 113.6 million euros. The minister requested extraordinary support from the CAP agricultural reserve. The commissioner promised to consider Estonia's request.

The meeting also addressed the spread of African swine fever and Latvia's proposal to extend by one year the CAP strategic plans' exemption rule from spending commitments in rural development support. This would provide an additional year to carry out the necessary investments. In addition, the minister and commissioner discussed Estonia's main concerns regarding the EU's 2028-2034 multiannual financial framework and CAP proposal package.

The main focus of the September meeting of the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council was the new funding period for the common agricultural policy and common fisheries policy. Terras highlighted a need for more flexibility to allow member states to choose suitable tools for meeting the objectives.

The minister said that Estonia continues to strive to ensure equal competitive conditions for its farmers in the EU's internal market.

"By the start of the new budget period, Estonia will have been a member of the European Union for 25 years, but our levels of agricultural support remain below the EU average. This is happening while, as a member state on the eastern flank, we must also make substantial defense investments," he said.

"The use of the EU agricultural reserve must be clearly regulated, transparent, and partially compensate for economic losses. We also support the creation of a separate crisis management mechanism from CAP strategic plan funds," the minister said.

With regard to the common fisheries policy, during a discussion on cormorants, Terras pointed out that predators in the Baltic Sea eat more fish than the European Commission has allocated as Estonia's annual catch. The fast-growing cormorant population has a major negative impact on Estonia's fish stocks and ecosystem. The minister called on the European Commission to find tangible solutions to the cormorant problem and to coordinate population management at the EU level.

Estonia submitted an info point on African swine fever (ASF) to the session to provide an overview of the situation and highlight the need for support. During the extensive outbreak, more than 55,000 animals have died, been culled, or are being culled -- nearly one-fifth of Estonia's total domestic pig population, including nearly 8,000 animals in a farrowing facility.

The minister called on the European Commission to ensure sustainable and ongoing EU funding for member states for disease surveillance and control; to fund research for solutions to ASF; to continue updating the legal framework in line with new scientific findings; and to support targeted hunting measures and the use of wild boar meat.