Summary of newspapers of the previous day – 24. 3. 2009

More than billion Euros should help European agriculture from crisis; flexibility will guarantee its purposeful use

Impacts of economic crisis in the agricultural sector, an evaluation of effectivity of till this time adopted tools, and proposals of other possibilities how to help European farmers to overcome the difficult period were discussed by department ministers of Twenty seven led by the minister Gandalovič. A rescue parcel approved by the European Council on Friday counts for agriculture on more than one billion Euros. In what branches the money will go exactly and how much – I t is let on a decision of national governments of members states. A flexibility principle was proposed and put through by Czech presidency.

Presidency helps to improve life of farm animals

Conclusions of the EU Council to the Multi-purpose Declaration on Animal Welfare prepared by Czech presidency in cooperation with the European Commissions were approved by departmental ministers of agriculture today in Brussels. The Union and other international participants want to use the declaration to stimulate also third countries to adopt national regulations on animal welfare. A level of protection and so called animal welfare is high in the EU and it improves all the time. From a view-point of equal conditions of a competition of food producers on the global market it takes effect as a competitive disadvantage, therefore the presidency tries to determine such standards of animal welfare in the EU which would inspire the rest of world.

Solution of fall in milk can be support of demand and restructuring of sector, not further intervention in market

A long-term fall in the milk branch is accompanied equally intensive and long-term looking for tools which should help European farmers to overcome the difficult period. The last step is increase of butter intervention – however, these interventions in the market reached a ceiling of its possibilities. Moreover, according to the Commission the persisting troubles are not already caused by overproduction but by the worldwide economic crisis. So, the attention should be turned to stimulation of demand, a restructuring of the sectors, and a transparency of relations to chains.

Contention for wood engraver in Šumava becomes acute

A contention for wood engraver in Šumava become acute and still more and more divides not only municipalities and protectionists but also scientists. It does not look like a soon conciliation. When one side of the conflict goes its opinions upon scientific researches, the adverse party brings other expert analysis. A question which Šumava tries to answer for many years is: to cut or not to cut trees invaded by wood engraver? The protectionists claim that the best is to let the nature to a normal development without human intervention; the municipality and region representatives want to intervene. They are afraid that eight-toothed spruce beetle will attack also other forests.