Summary of newspapers of the previous day – 9. 3. 2011

Ministers of environment of V4 signed joint statement

The Minister of Environment Tomáš Chalupa participated the 17th meeting of ministers of environment of countries of Visegrad Group (V4) in Slovakia. The main meeting topics were a climatic change focused on outputs from Cancún; a new EU financial strategy after 2013; the air protection; and ecological burdens in relation to soil conservation. After the negotiation, the ministers signed a joint statement. In the area of climatic change they discussed especially a financing of climate protection and a cooperation with developing countries.

Czech Republic and France require simple and market agricultural policy

Czech and French farmers have a right to simple rules of the Common Agricultural Policy. It has been agreed by Czech Minister of Agriculture Ivan Fuksa and the president of French Agrarian Chamber Guy Vasseur. They also discussed a quality of imported foods and determination of upper limits (ceilings) of direct payments. “We have with the president Vasseur a unity of interest in support of reforms which will strengthen market orientation of the Common Agricultural Policy and will lead to creation of a life-net for cases of price falls and crises. We also agreed on that as simplest rules as possible should be held for European farmers after 2013 because it would strengthen their competitiveness.”

Information for farmers

About a newly introduced possibility to obtain professional competence of farmers to dispose of plant protection preparations also by passing a one-day course. A validity of certificate of professional competence to dispose of plant protection preparations according to the law No. 326/2004 Col., on phytosanitary care in valid version, issued to persons who use these prepartions within their entrepreneurial activity in agriculture, ends for some persons in 2011. These persons can get a prolongation of the certificate of professional competence by passing an exam (according to a level and expertness of education either by passing only the exam, or by passing a course with the final exam).

Pig and poultry breeders can submit applications for cereal loans from state material reserves

Only entrepreneurs dealing with pig and poultry breeding can ask for a loan. A written application must be submitted on the 21st of March morning at the latest. On its base the Administration of State Material Reserves will give up species determined feeding cereals from material reserves for an agreed time on a condition that breeders will return the volume in the same species. To cover the lent cereals, a fund has to be paid down which after the returning of cereals in material reserves breeders will obtain back to full extent.