Representatives of the Visegrad Group (Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic,
Slovakia) urged the European Commission on the 4th to adopt coordinated measures
to mitigate a severe drought that is reducing crop output and threatening feed
supplies and the dairy sector. Delegates met 3–4 in Nitra, Slovakia, and
discussed the drought and a European dairy crisis. Data released at the meeting
showed Poland’s crop output is at least 20% below last year and the Czech
Republic is facing its worst harvest in nearly 15 years. Delegates warned feed
shortages from crop failures will materially hit livestock producers and milk
supplies. They called for EU-level measures to stabilize agricultural and food
supply chains and asked agriculture ministers to prioritize drought relief at
the upcoming informal EU agriculture ministers meeting.
