Farmers in Vilnius, Brussels protest against proposed CAP changes

VILNIUS - Around 10,000 farmers from Lithuania and other European Union countries are protesting in Brussels on Thursday against the European Commission's intention to reduce funding for farmers from 2027.

In addition, the Lithuania's Chamber of Agriculture and Kooperacijos Kelias, a Lithuanian association of agricultural cooperatives, are staging a protest outside the EU representation in Vilnius.

Martynas Puidokas, vice-chairman of the Lithuanian Farmers' Union, says that farmers from all over Europe are united in their opposition to the Commission's proposed changes to the Common Agricultural Policy, budget cuts, unfair EU trade policy and bureaucracy.

"Today (Thursday - BNS), the Lithuanian Farmers' Union, together with 10,000 EU farmers, is participating in a rally in Brussels. This is a continuation of our actions. Back in the summer, we were polite and conveyed our message about inappropriate EU policy to our government representatives in every country's capital. They did not listen to us," Puidokas told BNS.

According to Raimundas Juknevicius, chairman of the Lithuanian Farmers' Union, farmers are greatly concerned by the Commission's proposal to reduce the CAP budget by a fifth and completely abandon the policy structure that has been in place for decades.

On the eve of the protest, leaders of EU farmers' organizations met in Brussels to discuss current issues related to the future of the CAP and the ratification of the free trade agreement signed by the EU and the Mercosur bloc of South American countries.

BNS reported earlier that Lithuania is calling for an increase in EU funding for agriculture and fisheries for 2028-2034 as the funds allocated to the CAP after 2027 are significantly insufficient.

Lithuania is expected to receive 4.386 billion euros in 2028-2034, which is 20 percent less than in the previous financial perspective (5.485 billion euros).