Agriculture, EU – Baltic States, Financial Services, Legislation, Lithuania, Markets and Companies

The Ministry of Agriculture earlier asked the European Union (EU) for LTL 110 million (EUR 32 million). However, Minister of Agriculture Virginija Baltraitiene revealed that Lithuania did not expect to receive the full amount it had asked for. Lithuania had successfully negotiated with Brussels to be granted up to 70% higher direct advance payments for declared land. Milk purchase prices started falling after Russia imposed a ban agricultural product import.

"Our country has suffered probably the most from the embargo imposed by Russia. In some districts milk purchase price dropped radically. Lithuania would not have managed to deal by itself, we are in great need of support, thus negotiations with the European Commission were long and persistent," said the agriculture minister.

The EC decided to allocate EUR 28 million to the Baltic States.