On 24 March 2025, European agriculture ministers responded to the recent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease.
Slovakia and Hungary, which are currently affected by the outbreak, have requested "technical and financial" support from the European Commission to "minimize the damage and preserve trade with third countries", some of which have suspended their imports.
This request has been supported by several states, including Germany, which itself was affected by foot-and-mouth disease in January. Germany has stated that it has sent vaccine doses to Hungary and is ready to provide them to Slovakia.
Hungary, for its part, has stated that it has implemented measures "beyond those prescribed" by the EU, including depopulating affected farms and establishing regulated zones around the outbreaks. Hungary also raised concerns about restrictions imposed by several third countries on its exports of live animals and their products, "particularly for pigs and ruminants", warning that these restrictions would lead to "unpredictable economic losses".
Slovenia emphasized the importance of vaccine banks "for the future" and the need for sufficient European co-financing for veterinary measures, "whether emergency or planned".
Portugal advocated for the development of a "European vaccination strategy", while Denmark highlighted the need to "examine the funding of veterinary measures" and "align it with the CAP budget".
These requests echo those made by France and Spain in October 2024.