Brussels, 02/08/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 30 July, the European Commission decided to extend the mandate of the high-level group on the competitiveness of the agro-food industry by making it into a high-level forum, in order to improve the functioning of the food sector as regards contractual relations, logistics and competitiveness. The agro-food sector represents 2% of the GDP of the European Union and 13.5% of all employment in the manufacturing industry. It continues to play a fundamental role in satisfying the needs of consumers and contributes an annual production of more than 600 billion EUR to the EU economy. However, the entire European food supply chain has entered a period of adjustment. Consumer preferences are changing as a result of income and lifestyle developments as well as shifts in population. Customer concerns about food safety, health and prices have also imposed stringent requirements on the sector.
The vice-president of the Commission in charge of industry and entrepreneurship states that “The High Level Group will help achieve future growth and competitiveness in the European agro-food industry, to address the impact of globalisation and take advantage of its opportunities. It should lead to a more competitive agro-food sector for the benefit of consumers, farmers and the industry, which should help to promote high quality food for all European citizens”. Antonio Tajani adds that he is “looking forward to cooperating closely with my fellow Commissioners Dacian Cioloº, John Dalli and Michel Barnier, as well as relevant stakeholders, Member States and Members of the European Parliament”.
The forum will be representative of all food chain operators. Its work is planned to start in the autumn and end by 31 December 2012. So far, the European Commission has been engaged in two major activities: - the creation, in 2008, of the high-level group, which has issued thirty recommendations in response to the challenges facing the European agro-food industry and drafted a roadmap for the implementation of initiatives designed to develop the sector; - the adoption of the communication “A better functioning food supply chain in Europe”, which focuses on ten political initiatives aiming to remedy the causes of the problems identified in the food marketing monitoring exercise.
In the course of their work to date, the Group has examined ways to enhance the growth and efficiency of the whole food supply chain, from the primary sector to the retail sector, whilst securing sustainable, safe and diversified products at affordable prices for the consumer. The discussions focused on: agricultural and environmental policy, the internal market for food, operation of the food chain, research and innovation, trade and exports. The Forum will issue an annual report on the follow-up of the recommendations of the High Level Group and on the implementation of the initiatives proposed by the Commission. (O.L./trans.fl)