Brussels, 28/07/2011 (Agence Europe) - In a letter addressed to European Commissioners Michel Barnier (Internal Market) and Dacian Cioloº (Agriculture), Copa-Cogeca deplores and condemns the violent attacks committed on 26 July in France against Spanish lorries carrying peaches and nectarines, during a union protest by producers from the Bouches-du-Rhône, Gard and Pyrénées orientales.
On 27 July, Spain protested against the fact that French farmers had destroyed a Spanish cargo of fruit and vegetables at the border between the two countries (near Perpignan). Spain has called on France to take measures to prevent this kind of incident from happening again.
“This action comes at a time when EU peach and nectarine producers are undergoing a major crisis”, writes Pekka Pesonen, Copa-Cogeca Secretary General. The agricultural organisations call on the commissioner to intervene with the French government “to ensure that the single market functions properly and that fruit and vegetables fulfilling EU standards are allowed to circulate freely”. Copa-Cogeca also calls on the European Commission for “support for peaches and nectarines to be stepped up” to help producers overcome the crisis. In particular, Copa-Cogeca calls on the European Commission to suggest, at the EU management committee meeting on Thursday 28 July, that there should be an additional payment of €30 per 100kg added to the maximum amounts of EU support provided for peaches and nectarines which have been withdrawn from the market, with 100% EU financing. This complement is needed to take production costs into account, the organisations say.
Several incidents of this kind have taken place over recent years, with French farmers denouncing unfair competition due to undercut prices on Spanish products. (L.C./transl.jl)