Following the meeting, both parties acknowledged the constructive dialogue that transpired. “The atmosphere was positive, and we engaged in dialogue,” remarked Guy Feyder, President of the Chamber of Agriculture. “We don’t want to make a fuss now, but let the government get to work,” he added.
Addressing the concerns voiced by the farming community, Prime Minister Luc Frieden underscored the significance of providing farmers with a sense of stability in planning. “Farmers require assurance that decisions made today will support the ongoing development of their operations,” he asserted.
Frieden, who was accompanied by Minister of Agriculture Martine Hansen and Minister of the Environment Serge Wilmes, further stressed the importance of striking a delicate balance between environmental conservation, biodiversity protection, and agricultural productivity — a balance “that has historically not always been struck correctly.”
Later in the day, Prime Minister Frieden held discussions with European Commissioner for Climate Action, Wopke Hoekstra, focusing on the formulation of a “pragmatic” and “reasonable” environmental policy for Europe.
Wilmes emphasised the necessity of regarding farmers as integral partners in environmental stewardship, advocating for their active involvement in conservation efforts.
Guy Feyder conveyed the farming community’s plea for the space to collaborate on sustainable solutions, expressing overall satisfaction with the government’s receptiveness to their concerns. “The tone set during discussions gives us hope for a constructive future relationship,” Feyder remarked, highlighting the absence of agricultural protests on Luxembourg’s roads as indicative of this progress.
Prime Minister Frieden stressed the urgency of devising tangible solutions to address the sector’s pressing challenges, noting that these deliberations would inform the upcoming agriculture conference in March.
