The minister stressed that Hungarian farmers can rely on state support under all circumstances, whether they are facing spring frost, drought, animal diseases, or market difficulties. He said compensation payments, credit moratoriums, and advance subsidy payments all demonstrate that the government responds quickly to emerging challenges.
Nagy noted that during the past two years of implementing the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plan, 60 support calls were launched, with decisions made on more than 103,000 applications, amounting to HUF 2,907 billion in total support.
Looking ahead, the minister warned that further difficulties are expected this year, as Brussels is planning to cut agricultural subsidies by nearly 20 percent in order to finance the war in Ukraine. He added that new free trade agreements could endanger EU markets, while changes to the subsidy system could trigger a wave of bankruptcies in the agricultural sector.
Hungary, he emphasized, continues to insist on maintaining a separate budget for the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy, as agriculture and food supply are strategic issues that must not be put at risk. He reiterated that the government is maintaining border restrictions on Ukrainian agricultural imports to prevent an influx of food products of questionable origin, and continues to reject the EU–Mercosur agreement.
According to Nagy, it represents a “double standard” to demand sustainability from European farmers while allowing food imports from South America that do not meet the same requirements.
The minister said he was convinced that Hungarian farmers could expect no support from what he described as a “Brussels puppet government.” He argued that the Tisza Party does not represent Hungarian interests and that its leadership comes from global financial circles. By contrast, he said, a national government will always stand by farmers and ensure a stable subsidy system.
Nagy added that investment support from the CAP Strategic Plan’s rural development framework could exceed HUF 1,000 billion by March, and that several development projects are expected to begin this year, providing jobs and long-term security for rural Hungary.
President of the National Federation of Hungarian Farmers’ Associations and Cooperatives (MAGOSZ) István Jakab called for unified action, saying there is no issue on which farmers cannot cooperate with the agricultural government. He emphasized that this partnership is based on long-standing mutual trust rather than campaign-driven cooperation.
National Chamber of Agriculture (NAK) President Zsolt Papp said Europe’s farming community has responded with strong unity to Brussels decisions that threaten subsidies. He argued that the European Commission is attempting to monetize public health in order to finance its failed policies, while producers feel deceived.
Prime Minister’s Advisor Zsolt Nyitrai said Brussels has become detached from reality on agricultural matters and is pushing decisions that should not be approved. He added that farmers can express their views on EU agricultural plans by filling out the form available on the agrarpeticio.hu website.