At Monday’s meeting of the EU Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, independent MEP Luis-Vicențiu Lazarus (NI) asked for clarification on how various restrictions had been imposed on livestock farming in Romania without clearly explaining to people why and without offering them serious support.

„The European Commission should tell us if it wants us to switch to producing vegetable protein from soy, insects, or artificial meat. Otherwise, I cannot explain why some provisions are so absurd. I am also referring to the part about diseases.

Vice-President Buda noted that a few years ago, in 2015-2016, he reported the outbreak of swine fever and alerted the European Commission, but the Commission replied that it had everything under control and did nothing.

Today, Romania is still red, still with swine fever. What’s more, sheep fever has also appeared. For example, in Romania, on April 14, the last outbreak of sheep plague was reported to have been eliminated, and yet Romania has blocked the export of live sheep until September 30. What is the logic here? In Romania, many farmers and shepherds have effectively given up this activity. Either because of the government’s absurd measures, which often blame the European Commission for imposing all sorts of things on them, or do we finally have to decide what our priorities are? Do we help farmers and shepherds, do we help the entire livestock sector, or do we move on to something else? That is why people are very confused and upset about these things. Perhaps Mr. Buda can explain. For example, why is he not doing anything at the moment to enable Romania to export sheep?” asked the MEP.

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