K. Mažeika: The new Minister of Agriculture will need not only to talk, but also to rally all the institutions
Kęstutis Mažeika, a Member of the Seimas who has been mentioned as a potential candidate for the post of Minister of Agriculture, has so far avoided discussing specific political decisions and says he is waiting until “all the i’s have been dotted”. However, when asked about the most important challenges facing the future minister, he highlighted the upcoming new European Union funding period, the reduction of bureaucracy and the need to strengthen dialogue with farmers.
The biggest challenge – declining funding
According to K. Mažeika, the new minister will not only have to continue the work already begun, but also prepare for a challenging period linked to the future EU financial perspectives: “The main challenges lie ahead: the Presidency and the forthcoming new funding period, during which the agriculture budget is set to be reduced by around 20 per cent. The measures envisaged pose a major challenge both for us and for our farmers.
The politician also emphasised that the implementation of the commitments set out in the Government’s programme and the reduction of red tape in agriculture must remain a priority.
“Another priority is reducing bureaucracy in agriculture, a topic already addressed by all four previous ministers over the past three years. We have managed to achieve a great deal, but there are still quite a few issues to be resolved“, the MP emphasised.
According to him, an important role falls not only to the minister, but also to all state institutions: “Coordination across all institutions is vital; it is not enough for one minister or another simply to talk – the work will not get done by itself. We need everyone’s support.”
Therefore, according to K. Mažeika, both the Prime Minister and the President must have strong advisers on agricultural matters so that decisions such as the Milk Act, which “has been a source of hope for dairy farmers for more than 10 years”, can finally be adopted.
One minister is not enough
When assessing the Ministry of Agriculture’s communication with the farming community, the interviewee emphasised the importance not only of the minister but also of the entire political team. According to him, there are many competent specialists working at the ministry, but there are concerns regarding the political level.
“When it comes to deputy ministers and advisers – there certainly are concerns. And not just from me, but also from the Committee on Rural Affairs and, more generally, from farmers’ associations. One minister cannot do all the work on their own; there needs to be a strong team,
According to K. Mažeika, it is important that the ministry’s political team consists of professionals in their respective fields, capable not only of holding office but also of delivering results.
“I would like to see more professional communication between the ministry’s staff and the political team, rather than separate discussions on different issues, which often fail to converge and prevent decisions from being taken,” – said the politician.
The minister must be on the farmers’ side
Speaking about the message the new minister should send to farmers, K. Mažeika first emphasised the importance of openness and dialogue: “The most important thing is to be on the farmers’ side and to be open, because it is the farmers who, through their practical work, identify the problems that need to be addressed.”
According to him, it is important to ensure that the issues raised by farmers reach the ministry’s leadership as quickly as possible and that concrete decisions are taken.
“If such a dialogue takes place, then perhaps some progress will be made and those expectations will be met to a greater extent than has been the case so far,” concluded K. Mažeika.
