30
Apr
2026
Watch
How to secure a sustainable future for the EU livestock sector in light of the need to ensure food security, farmers’ resilience and the challenges posed by animal diseases? (debate)
Mr President, Commissioner, the report presented confirms that livestock production is a pillar of our food security. They account for 40% of agricultural production, worth EUR 214 billion, yet we have lost 37% of farmers in the last 20 years. The report clearly warns that the overwhelming legislative burden and constant changes to the rules are to blame, destroying farmers' willingness to invest. In particular, I fully support paragraph 10 of the report, which calls for the funding of non-profit organisations carrying out militant lobbying against breeders to be stopped. We must stop paying for an ideology from the LIFE programme that paints a misleading picture of our countryside. The report also clearly rejects the uncritical promotion of laboratory substitutes. These are energy-intensive, dependent on chemical inputs and endanger our family farms. In international trade, the report finally calls for mirror clauses and reciprocity. Our farmers must not face unfair competition from imports that ignore our standards. I am glad that we defend, as we in the Czech Republic say, common sense and our farmers.