Candidate: Ms Simona Petrik

Party: Coalition Progressive Slovakia & TOGETHER - Civic Democracy Slovakia

Number: 3

Website: www.simonapetrik.sk

Will you be supporting the regulation of new pollutants that have proved to pose a significant threat to people and nature, such as pesticides, (micro)plastics, hormone-disrupting substances, etc.?

Yes.

What will you do in the EP to make European agriculture become more diverse, healthy and sustainable?

Yes.

What is your position on the financing of fossil fuel projects from EU money?

Negative.

Will you be advocating for better financing rates in environment-related EU funds to alleviate the handicap of civil society organizations in Central and Eastern Europe?

Yes.

In the run-up to EU elections, what is your message to citizens for whom sustainability, the environment and biodiversity are important?

We only have one planet.

Candidate: Eugen Jurzyca

Party: Freedom and Solidarity, Sloboda a Solidarita, SaS

Website: https://www.sas.sk/

Regulation of new pollutants

Freedom and Solidarity Party advocates for the principle of subsidiarity in the EU. We believe that the legislative process needs to be as close to the people as possible. Therefore, we do not support EU-wide regulation in this regard. We see the role of the EU in delivering the most detailed scientific analysis to the individual Member States as well as the recommendations on how to deal with pesticides and pollution. We also believe that it is the responsibility of the Member State to take appropriate measures and inform EU about their approach.

Sustainable agriculture

We actively support the harmonization of payments under the Common Agricultural Policy. We are in favor of equalization of farmers’ entitlements to direct payments across all Member States. We believe that the fair and non-discriminatory redistribution of payments will also motivate the farmers to use modern environmental practices that are currently less profitable compared to conventional practices under the present rules.

Fossil fuel subsidies

We are strongly against the EU subsidies for projects involving fossil fuels.

Environmental civil society organizations in our region

We do not favor particular segment of civil society at the expense of the other. We believe that the rules towards promoting the non-governmental sector should be equal and non-discriminatory across all societal issues (social affairs, health, etc.).

The party’s main sustainability message

Concern for the environment deserves public attention and Freedom and Solidarity Party supports its protection. Clean, healthy and sustainable country is a precondition for the higher quality of life for the present generation and those to come. On the basis of available and up-to-date scientific knowledge EU should continue to provide expert advice and support to Member States to achieve its binding environmental targets. However, the implementation of specific measures and the choice of instruments to achieve these targets should remain with the individual Member States, with respect to the differences in their developments. We find the EU's role essential in creating rules that will effectively prevent cross-border pollution, protect transnational biodiversity and apply the “polluter-pays” principle consistently. We support phasing out of subsidies for energy production from fossil fuels and advocate for stronger accent on sustainable development in the new Common Agricultural Policy cycle 2021-2027.