Brussels, 18/09/2002 (Agence Europe) - The three Baltic States must not hope for higher direct farm subsidies during EU membership talks, warned Agriculture Commissioner Franz Fischler. Visiting Latvia on Monday and Tuesday, Mr Fischler nonetheless promised to do everything he could to take into account the specific problems encountered by Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian farmers since the fall of communism and the independence of their countries in 1991.
Mr Fischler admitted that there is only limited scope for manoeuvre for reaching a compromise during negotiations. He recalled that some current Member States are opposed to paying aid to the new members. The Commissioner promised he would seek to take into account other questions of concern to the Baltic States, such as production quotas. As far as quotas are concerned, he said, he can imagine limited flexibility, but only on the basis of sound arguments. The current project provides for production quotas, calculated on the basis of low production levels recorded during the early nineties, being granted to the Baltic States.