Zagreb - Marijana Petir, chair of the Croatian Parliament's Agriculture Committee, warned on Friday that current EU plans for the 2028–2034 multiannual financial framework envisage a 22% cut in agricultural funding and a 60% reduction in the fisheries budget.
Petir made the remarks at a press conference in Parliament, where she announced an interparliamentary conference, "From field to sea – A common vision for EU food security and strategic autonomy", to be held in Dubrovnik from 27 to 29 September.
"We believe it is impossible to meet demands to produce more, make our agriculture more competitive and fulfil the green ambitions set for our farmers with less funding," Petir said.
She also voiced concern about greater flexibility for member states, saying that without a clear common framework and adequate safeguards, this could lead to differing levels of support, undermine cohesion and create unequal conditions in the single market.
The conference is being held as part of the parliamentary dimension of Croatia's presidency of the EU MED 9 group. It will bring together chairs of agriculture committees from MED 9 countries, European Commission officials responsible for agriculture and fisheries, NATO representatives, and members of the academic and expert communities.
Petir said the conference was being held as the EU's future common agricultural and fisheries policies reach a turning point, with negotiations on the structure of both policies and the next multiannual financial framework nearing completion.
"Our goal is to work with other Mediterranean countries to build a coalition and send a message about what we want the future common agricultural and fisheries policies to look like, how they should be structured and funded, and to ensure these recommendations reach EU decision-makers before the negotiations are concluded," Petir said.