Brussels, 24/04/2012 (Agence Europe) - During a visit to Andalusia on 22-23 April, European Agriculture Commissioner Dacian Ciolos confirmed his intention of publishing an action plan for olive oil in May. This action plan will be sent to the European ministers of agriculture with the aim of holding a special ministerial meeting on olive oil before the summer break.
He referred to the following themes which could be put for discussions in the framework of the action plan: support for the restructuring of the sector (via the future rural development plans); - better organisation of the sector; support for producer groups; quality; diversification; improving of marketing and promotion (both within the EU and on third-country markets); improving assessment methods (test panels); increased controls to discourage fraud; and labelling.
The commissioner recalled that there are four elements in the legislative proposals on the reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP) which may benefit the olive oil sector: - direct payments (move towards a regional flat rate); - possible top-ups for disadvantaged areas; - keeping certain aid coupled; - various options for rural development (such as the possibility of sectorial programmes). Ciolos also announced regulatory and financial improvements for the “promotion'” plank.
On this final point, the Commissioner stressed the Commission's intentions of presenting specific legislative proposals on promoting olive oil by the end of the year, on the basis of the responses to the recent communication on the issue. During his visit to Andalusia, the commissioner visited several olive groves and met representatives of the Spanish inter-professional office for olive oil. Ciolos also held an exchange of views with the Spanish minister for agriculture, Miguel Arias Canete, and the regional agriculture minister, Clara Aguilera. (LC/transl.fl)