Minister: EU support for agriculture to fall, additional funds may be available for direct payments

Agriculture Minister Andrius Palionis says EU support for agriculture will fall by 20% in the new financial perspective, but if a deal can be struck, additional funds may be made available for direct payments.

The amount of support currently proposed for Lithuania for 2028-2034 is €4.39 billion, or 20% less than in the current perspective.

„It's what we've got, everything is cut, the whole envelope. (...) We have the initial information, (...) but there is a lot of accompanying legislation missing from the European Commission, there are questions about how it was calculated, what was assessed and how we will have to proceed," Palionis told reporters on Tuesday. 

Direct payments are increasing year on year and could reach 79% of the EU average in 2027, he said.

„What we hear from the Commission is that there is extra money for the Baltic countries and for those countries that have not reached 80% of the average for direct payments, but we cannot estimate how much, hypothetically we tried to calculate, to compare, “, &ndashis said. 

The principle of the basic allowance will also change, he said: it will be able to increase from €80 to €130-240. Additional payments will be made to young farmers, women and priority will be given to mixed farms.

A. Palionis also said that until now, environmental commitments for farmers have been financed almost 100% by the EU, but in the new period at least 30% will have to be contributed by the state: "This money should be reflected in our budget planning.

According to the ministry's figures, a total of €300 billion is earmarked for all Member States, of which €6.3 billion is earmarked for the agricultural reserve, and the rest €293.7 billion for revenue support measures.