The Alliance for Agriculture and Cooperation expresses solidarity with farmers from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Austria

The Alliance for Agriculture and Cooperation, represented by the National Federation - PRO AGRO, the League of Associations of Agricultural Producers in Romania – LAPAR, the National Union of Cooperatives in the Crop Sector – UNCSV, and the Farmers’ Force Association – AFF, expresses its solidarity with farmers from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Austria, who have organized protests against unfair European agricultural policies, massive imports of agricultural products from third countries, and for the need of a distinct and robust budget for the CAP 2028-2034.

Romanian farmers face the same challenges as their European colleagues: market distortions caused by duty-free imports from Ukraine, the harmful impact of the EU-Mercosur trade agreement on the competitiveness of European agricultural production, the growing bureaucratic burden imposed by Brussels regulations, and the lack of clear provisions for a strong and distinct CAP budget within the Vision for the Future of EU Agriculture. These measures threaten food security, disrupt local supply chains, and negatively affect farmers’ incomes across Europe.

In this context, the Alliance for Agriculture and Cooperation supports the demands of European farmers and calls on decision-makers in Romania and the European Union to:

• Cancel the EU-Mercosur agreement, which would allow massive imports of agricultural products from South America, severely undermining the competitiveness of European farmers;
• Renegotiate EU-Ukraine trade relations to protect the European agricultural market and ensure fair competition conditions;
• Guarantee fair agricultural policies that provide genuine protection for the internal market and European farmers;
• Reduce bureaucracy and excessive regulations imposed by Brussels, which hinder agricultural activities;
• Support the European Citizens' Initiative "Stop Fake Food," which seeks to ensure proper food labeling and protect European consumers.

Farmers across Europe, including Romania, are at the forefront of the fight to preserve a viable agricultural sector, to protect local production, and to safeguard food security. We need reciprocity and mirror rules for imported products, applying the same standards that EU producers must meet.

These protests have sent a strong signal to both European and national decision-makers that current agricultural policies must be revised to ensure a sustainable future for farmers across the European Union.

The Alliance for Agriculture and Cooperation will continue to stand with Romanian farmers and advocate for fair and equitable agricultural policies.