Brussels, 29/07/2011 (Agence Europe) - In line with the announcement made by European Commissioner Dacian Cioloº at the Agriculture Council of 19 July, the staff of the Commission announced on Thursday 28 July to the management committee that they intend to increase the reference prices used to calculate the compensation for the withdrawal of peaches and nectarines from the market. Peach and nectarine prices are down 42% and 50% respectively compared to last year's figures from the same period, and producers are going through difficult times.
In a press release, the Commission states that over the last few weeks, peach and nectarine prices have been very low compared to previous years. It explains that the regulation making it possible to increase the reference prices used to calculate aid for withdrawing these two fruits will be put to the vote of the management committee of the EU in September. Withdrawal aid is paid to the producer organisations which carry out withdrawal operations under the operational programmes. The Commission is planning single withdrawal aid for both peaches and nectarines of €26.90/100kg. The current levels are €16.49/100kg for peaches and €19.56/100kg for nectarines. Of this aid 50% is covered by the budget of the EU, with the producer organisations responsible for covering the other 50%. The decision will be made retroactively, in order to cover all (withdrawal) operations starting from 19 July 2011, in accordance with EU rules.
Copa's reaction. “The market situation for peaches, nectarines, melons and watermelons has been aggravated badly by the E.coli crisis”, states Copa-Cogeca in a press release issued on Thursday 28 July. The agricultural organisations welcome the proposal put forward by the Commission at Thursday's management committee to increase the aid available for the withdrawal of peaches and nectarines from the market. “Nevertheless, the proposed increase is not sufficient”, it argues. Copa-Cogeca is calling for compensation of €30/100kg for the withdrawal of these products from the market. (L.C./transl.fl)