National approaches to agriculture

Nagy, Frigyes

Keywords: common and national agricultural policy, influencing EU decisions, development and sustainability

The extent to which giving up our national sovereignty is justified after joining the EU, is a theoretical question. In agriculture in particular, it is expedient to start a new page. Should we then, think in terms of having nothing further to do than uphold community regulations, as agricultural policy is decided in Brussels? Or do we have unique interests, which we need to bring to bear in the EU legislative process? Do we have any opportunity for national agricultural policy, alongside common agricultural policy and in what areas and to what extent can this be realised?

Common agricultural policy is primarily focussed on stabilising markets. On the one hand it tries to create sales security for farmers, on the other, it aims to avoid overproduction by exerting it influence via production market measures. The long-term sustainability of production is playing an increasingly important role alongside the operation of the single internal market. These days attention is also focussed on agriculture from an energy production viewpoint. If the issue is only considered from one side, unbearable pressure could be placed on our natural environment.

We take part in EU decision-making; therefore, we have the opportunity to influence the processes, particularly if we cooperate with those member States that have similar interests to those of Hungary. This was successfully realised during the budget negotiations. It should be emphasised that common agricultural policy can only be realised via our national agricultural policy. Besides the possibility of exerting influence, it is particularly expedient to deal with those areas, which remain part of the national remit. If we take these in order, we discover that we are, in fact, talking about significant elements of agricultural policy. Common and national agricultural policy must be harmonised. This is a precondition of the development and long-term sustainability of our agriculture.