Summary of newsmakers of the previous day – 20. 3. 2007

Gandalovič didn't succeed. CR has to reform payment of subsidies

So called national evening-up will be paid by the government in form of payment per area, not per chosen commodities as it has been till now. The Czech Republic has to change a system of payment of direct payments for farmers. The Minister of Agriculture Petr Gandalovič at negotiations with European commissioner Mariann Fisher-Boel did not succeed with a requirement so that subsidies would be paid to farmers according to present conditions.

Ecological farmers suggest two different tariffs of supports

A proposal for support of ecological agriculture and bio-food production from the Rural Development Program, which were submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture by representatives of ecological farmers associated in organizations PRO-BIO, the Union of Marginal Areas and the Bohemian-Moravian Agricultural Entrepreneur Union, differentiates newly entirely ecological farmers and agricultural enterprise with so called simultaneous production which have besides ecological areas also conventional ones. At present an intensive discussion takes place how to support more and improve the quality of Czech ecological agriculture. It is a fact that regarding the prepared transition from the old program to the new Rural Development Plan for 2007-2013 the Czech Republic has now a unique chance to shift ecological agriculture and with it also the entire production of bio-foods at higher level concerning the quality and quantity.

Minister Gandalovič supported unblocking of budget for Czech countryside in Brussels

A session of EU ministers of agriculture taking place on 19.3.-20.3.2007 in Brussels is focused on unblocking of EU budget for years 2007-2013. The European Parliament rose to it this year in February. The Rural Development Program is about to enable to Czech applicants to draw as many as 13 billion crowns for various financial support. The Minister Gandalovič, who arrived in Brussels to get the money for Czech countryside, reported” “The Czech Republic supports procedure of the presidency which will contribute to release unblocked financial means for rural development programs. The compromise consists in the fact that a voluntary transfer of means from direct payments for rural development will concern only a limited number of countries.”

Spread butter will disappear from shop shelves; Brussels will not give exception

The name “pomazánkové máslo” (spread butter) will disappear from shop shelves and counters. Brussels definitely refused to give an exception to the Czech Republic thanks to which the name of popular Czech delicacy could be preserved. Journalists were informed on it by the Minister of Agriculture Petr Gandalovič after negotiation with Euro-commissioner Mariann Fisher-Boel. In his opinion the present name will finished to be used in the 2nd quarter next year. By the time businessmen will have had to prepare new packages. However, meanwhile it is still unclear what will be the new name of the product. There are for example variants as “pomazánkové” (spread) or “mléčná pomazánka” (milk spread). Today's visit of Gandalovič in Brussels was obviously the last attempt to safe the traditional name. He even brought two packages of spread butter to the commissioner, who is responsible for agriculture, but he did not convince her.