By: Moja Dolenjska
Agricultural professional organisations met with Prime Minister Robert Golob. The result of the meeting was a shift toward dialogue and additional time for coordinating the legislation in preparation.
In recent months, a substantial package of legislation is in the process of being adopted, which will profoundly affect farming in Slovenia.
Many of the proposals reduce the competitiveness of Slovenian farmers, as they introduce above-standard regulations that are not yet present in many other European countries. They interfere with agricultural land and forest management practices, and most notably, the legislative changes have been introduced without involving key stakeholders – namely, the farmers themselves.
Jože Podgoršek, president of the Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry of Slovenia (KGZS), summarised today’s meeting: “We did not agree on key substantive open issues with the Prime Minister this time, but he expressed understanding and listened to our concerns. He assured us that the responsible ministry will prepare the current agricultural reform in two phases, meaning that there will be further coordination on the open legislative items.”
Anton Medved, president of the Slovenian Farmers’ Trade Union, added: “The Prime Minister has decided to form an emergency task force concerning the removal of wild animals, as there are ongoing problems with the excessive number of wolves and bears. I also hope that the promised handling of agricultural laws will go in the right direction, since this is a kind of mini agricultural constitution that we farmers must live by and follow.”
Changes to agricultural legislation must be made in dialogue with those who live by that legislation, said the KGZS. Slovenian farmers cannot stay silent. They cannot accept the countryside becoming an administrative victim of distant politics in the hands of capital interests. They seek understanding and support from the wider public, with the awareness that the farmer is not the problem but the solution. The photographs that adorn tourist catalogues and captivate visitors are part of a cultural landscape created by farmers. Agriculture ensures food sovereignty, which is eroding. Who will produce food in this country if small farms are forced to shut down? Who will care for the cultural landscape and the image of the countryside?
A video of the press conference following the meeting with the Prime Minister is available at: (20) Facebook Live
As previously reported, Prime Minister Robert Golob is, according to our sources, under strong pressure from certain NGOs regarding the changes to agricultural legislation – and appears to be firmly in their grip. Nonetheless, he got cold feet and finally made time for a meeting with representatives of the agricultural organisations. As seen, there were no major promises. How things will unfold remains to be seen. You can read more about past developments at the following link: The government rejects dialogue with farmers; Golob, firmly in the grip of NGOs, got scared!