Cristina Alonso Madrid

Madrid

Updated Thursday, March 7, 2024-02:11

Deadlock in the negotiation between the Government and the farmers.

If on February 28 the Minister of Agriculture, Luis Planas, accelerated the talks to try to close an agreement at the beginning of this week, since then silence has prevailed and, to this day, there has not been a single A new meeting has been called with the main organizations in the sector,

Asaja, UPA and Coag

.

As EL MUNDO has learned, the package of measures offered by Planas is pending the approval of several economic ministries, including

Economy and Finance

, as well as

Labor and Social Security

, which also have a say in some matters.

In the last meeting, the minister put on the table some additional measures to the initial package proposed on the flexibility of the bureaucracy required by the

Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)

in the European framework or with the reinforcement of the

Food Chain Law

at the level national.

Although he closed the door to activating a shock plan with direct aid, he did offer some measures that require the approval of the Economy and Treasury due to their budgetary impact, such as the reinforcement of the

agricultural insurance

system or the review of the

module tax

scheme for provide it with more tax aid.

"We are examining what type of aid and reductions can be applied for this campaign for sectors or areas in a more compromised situation from a productive point of view," Planas announced.

But they are not the only ministries that are affected by negotiations with the countryside.

It also affects the Minister of

Ecological Transition, Teresa Ribera

, although according to sources familiar with the conversations, Planas is avoiding involving the third vice president despite the fact that farmers appeal to her responsibility in the bulk of measures related to environmental sustainability objectives. because there is no room for maneuver there.

Those who do have something to say are the Ministers of

Labor and Social Security, Yolanda Díaz and Elma Saiz

, since the agricultural organizations have asked Planas to promote bonuses in business contributions to compensate for the strong increase that the interprofessional minimum wage has experienced ( SMI) in recent years, as the CEOE has stated on repeated occasions.

"Planas has made a move, but is awaiting approval from the economic ministries," sources in the negotiations say.

From Agriculture, however, they indicate that it is the Ministry that is "waiting for the agricultural organizations to establish their position."

Its not that easy.

Asaja, UPA and Coag

have already brought together their governing bodies, but territorial particularities make reaching a consensus on a position complicated.

"The vast majority think that the proposed measures are insufficient, although there are those who agree with some because they directly affect the farms in their province," they explain from one of the agricultural professional associations.

As it is, farmers keep their pulse on the street.

The organizations that negotiate with the Government continue to go out in isolation in different parts of the country, while the Unión de Uniones has called for

a large rally for March 17 in Madrid

due to the lack of "concrete measures" from the Government.