Mr Chairman,

on 24th February together with Latvian and Lithuanian Members of the European Parliament I have submitted a written declaration on equal treatment for farmers in the European Union in which the attention is drawn on the unequal treatment of farmers in the Union.

The direct payments for farmers differ up to even 7 times (4 times at an average) in different Member States. Most of the new Member States are below the average of the Union.

Such a situation violates one of the most important Union principles - the principle of solidarity. I call on the Council, the Commission, and the Parliament to standardise direct payments or at least minimise the differences of the payments and stop the unequal treatment of Member States' farmers.

I appeal to my colleagues, Members of the European Parliament to support the above mentioned written declaration No. 11 (On equal treatment for farmers in the European Union).