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Increased support for EU farmers through rural development funds

Today, the European Commission proposed an exceptional measure funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) to allow Member States to pay a one-off lump sum to farmers and agri-food businesses affected by significant increases in input costs. Such increases in prices, notably for energy, fertiliser and animal feed, are…

The European Commission steps up its monitoring of agricultural markets impacted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Today, the European Commission published a decision to gather monthly data on levels of stocks in the EU of cereals, oilseeds and rice. This is a direct follow-up of the Communication on “safeguarding food security and reinforcing the resilience of food systems” presented on 23 March. The aim is to better monitor stock levels in the current…

MEPs approve suspension of EU duties on all Ukrainian exports

Yesterday, the European Parliament backed a one-year suspension of EU import duties on all Ukrainian exports, to support the country’s economy. This temporary trade liberalisation, endorsed by 515 votes, with 32 against and 11 abstentions, is a response to the impact of Russia’s war against Ukraine, which is hampering the country’s ability to…

FAO Food Price Index retreated slightly in April from the all-time high registered in March

» The FAO Food Price Index* (FFPI) averaged 158.5 points in April 2022, down 1.2 points (0.8 percent) from the all-time high reached in March, though still 36.4 points (29.8 percent) above its value in the corresponding month last year. The drop in the FFPI in April was led by a significant downturn in the vegetable oil sub-index, along with a…

G7 Agriculture Ministers' Meeting: Özdemir received fellow ministers in Stuttgart

On 1 January 2022, Germany took over the Presidency of the G7. Germany is therefore hosting the annual summit of the G7 heads of state and government. On Friday and Saturday, 13/14 May 2022, Federal Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir received his fellow ministers in Stuttgart for the G7 Agriculture Ministers’ Conference.   During the G7 meeting…