Brussels, 18/05/2010 (Agence Europe) - EU agriculture ministers, meeting in Council in Brussels on Monday 17 May, discussed the competitiveness of the European agri-food model. Generally, delegations were of the view that it meets the needs and expectations of European citizens. It became clear, too, in debate, that farmers are complaining about the costs involved in meeting Europe's high level of standards.
Most ministers felt that the European agri-food model was not sufficiently well known or recognised at international level. Various options were advanced by member states to allow advantage to be taken of what sets the European model apart from the rest: - application of all EU standards to imports (reciprocity); - the export of the EU model to third countries (for example, through international organisations or bilaterally); - explaining the added value of European standards (for example, through promotion campaigns and labelling).
Most EU countries shared the feeling that current instruments for agri-food promotion are useful within the context of the new common agricultural policy (CAP). Some countries, however, suggested possible improvements.
Standards, in hygiene and food safety, and on the environment, animal welfare and the quality of products, “are the factors which define the European agri-food model,” stated Agriculture Commissioner Dacian Cioloº. He admitted that “often, a major part of these standards are not sufficiently well known either on the European market or on the international market”. Measures had to be taken, then, to publicise the benefits of the efforts made by European farmers to produce safe, high quality products and to “ensure that there are no negative effects to the environment in producing these foods”. The commissioner underlined the importance of pursuing the product promotion policy and using international bodies “to highlight the elements of the European model”. He went on to say that compliance “by our farmers” with all the standards and rules must not have an adverse effect on their competitiveness and that “that can be done by means of remuneration of these public goods through the CAP and the acknowledgement of these standards by our trading partners throughout the world”.
In a press release, COPA-COGECA, the European agricultural organisations, said that the European agri-food model “must be promoted better both domestically and internationally, in a bid to raise consumers' awareness of the EU's high quality goods and production standards”.
“Faced with increasing price volatility for agricultural and retail food products, it is vital that EU farmers and agri-cooperatives are competitive on an international level. An ambitious EU promotion policy will help the EU to maintain and increase its market shares in non-EU countries. We therefore urge EU politicians to raise consumer awareness of the benefits of the EU's high food safety and quality standards both on internal and world markets,” said COGECA President Paolo Bruni. (L.C./transl.rt)