The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, reiterated this Monday his respect for the constitutional right to protest, although he questioned whether the organizations of farmers and ranchers would call for a large tractor demonstration in Madrid for this Wednesday just a few days after the elections of November 29 were announced.
"I am not going to put any 'but' regarding (the right to protest and demonstration), those who call will know why they do it. The elections were called on the 5th, Monday, and this demonstration was called on Friday, the 9th: Let everyone draw their own conclusions regarding this," the minister concluded in statements to the press in Luxembourg, where he is attending a meeting of EU Agriculture and Fisheries ministers.
Planas also wanted to emphasize that the protest has been called "by three agricultural organizations, not all of them," citing Asaja, COAG, and Unión de Uniones, despite the fact that, in his opinion, the sector has maintained a climate of "absolutely in agreement" with the Executive regarding the demands that Spain is defending in the EU about the funds of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for the next European budget 2028-2034.
"It is very important that we remain united in this debate that is key for the immediate future," the Agriculture minister defended in relation to the open discussions in Brussels about the CAP and the future Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF, for its acronym in English).
In this line, the minister emphasized that the position of Pedro Sánchez's Government "is fully aligned" with the claims of the agricultural organizations, the Autonomous Communities, and the cooperatives.
"I don't know where the dissonance is, if there is any," he lamented, referring to the reasons for the tractor demonstration, which is expected to conclude in front of the headquarters of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to denounce the crisis facing the countryside and demand urgent responses.
European debate on the CAP and the community budget
Planas participates this Monday in Luxembourg in a meeting of the Twenty-Seven in which the ministers are trying to reach a principle of understanding on the design of the next CAP within the new budgetary framework. In any case, even if that consensus is achieved, the figures will not yet be set, as the distribution of resources will have to be addressed by the heads of State and Government of the EU in upcoming summits, at least one in November and another in December, with the aim of reaching a pact before the end of the year.
The minister has pointed out that the chances of reaching an agreement "are very high" in this Council of ministers —which could extend to Tuesday if the discussions become tougher—, although he has reminded that the overall proposal for the future MFF "is not liked" by Spain. Regarding his department, he emphasized the need for the CAP to have a "solid regulation" in which this traditional policy "can be recognized," maintaining an "important European character" but at the same time allowing for a "flexible" application in the member States.