Brussels, 25/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - After intense negotiations at the level of EU experts to try to please all the delegations, the Agriculture Council on Tuesday 29 June is expected to adopt, without debate, conclusions on the “international competitiveness of the European agri-food model”, highlighting the need to improve the way current promotion instruments for agricultural products work, in both the EU and third country markets.
The European production model, with its high standards, “is a major part of our heritage which it is important to preserve,” the conclusions state. This production model, however, presents challenges in terms of competitiveness in today's global market. One way of facing this challenge would be to “promote our model and convert it into a real market opportunity, both internally and externally,” the conclusions state, recommending, inter alia: - improving information and the efficiency of information tools; - improving how current promotion instruments work; - acknowledging the need for a level playing field between the EU and third country producers so that consumer demands and societal concerns (such as quality, health, the environment and animal welfare) are met; - effective control systems in member states. In this regard, the text stresses how important it is to ensure effective health and plant-health controls “at agreed points of Community entry at the EU's external borders or at places of destination where applicable and useful” (the Commission will bring forward a report by the end of 2010 on the effectiveness and consistency of health and plant-health checks on imports of food, feeds, animals and plants, with, if necessary, proposals to ensure that EU import rules work properly).
At international level. The conclusions note that promotion of the European model will come through having it recognised in international negotiations, thus strengthening the European Union's role as an important player in the establishment of international rules. The role of quality schemes, including Geographical Indications, should be reinforced in order fully to take advantage of their potential.
At domestic level. The conclusions identify the following action points: - consumers should have the information they need to allow them to make real choices, including appropriate labelling of agricultural products; - simplification, evaluation and impact assessment are essential tools to be used systematically to reduce unnecessary costs and lighten the administrative burden on businesses; - the operation of the food chain should be improved; - research and innovation should be strengthened as the key tool for improving competitiveness and sustainability in domestic and external markets.
The text states, lastly, that it must be ensured that “there are EU instruments designed to help farmers meet the societal concerns and consumer demands that are not taken into account by the market”. (L.C./transl.rt)