Brussels, 16/06/2014 (Agence Europe) - In Luxembourg on Monday 16 June, EU agriculture ministers unanimously adopted conclusions taking stock of the 2007 reform of the fruit and vegetables sector.
The agreement was made possible by a European Commission statement promising a report by no later than 2018 on possible legislative proposals on Community rules in the sector.
Ten countries (among them Hungary, Bulgaria, Croatia, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Romania and Slovenia) called for a better share-out of funds for producer organisation in regions and countries in which there is little organisation. They are calling for 2018 as the cut-off date for the implementation of legislative proposals. A Commission statement promises a report by no later than 2018 ahead of any legislative proposals. This means that any new rules would not enter into force until after 2020 (when the current multi-annual financial framework comes to an end). This timetable is satisfactory to France, Italy and Spain, amongst others, which are calling for no new measures to be taken in the fruit and vegetables sector until the new common agriculture policy (CAP) rules have been fully implemented. The statement was described as satisfactory by other countries, such as Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark, which would prefer a thorough overhaul of the common market organisation (CMO) following its implementation, so as to orient it towards research and innovation.
Dacian Ciolos, Commission for Agriculture, welcomed that the conclusions confirmed the vital role played by producer organisations towards achieving the objectives of the CAP in the fruit and vegetables sector. He took note of the need to make the Union's support to the sector more efficient “in order to increase the degree of organisation among producers, particularly in member states in which this degree of organisation is still too low”. The Commission also shares the concern for simplification and reducing the administrative burden on the member states and producer organisations. It wishes to establish a clear and transparent regulatory framework to reduce the rate of errors in the application of the rules. The Commission notes the improvements reported as regards the prevention and crisis management measures, as well as advantages which can be obtained from exchanging positive experiences between producer organisations.
Aftrer gathering the ideas of the Council of the EU and the European Parliament, the European Commission will be able to look into the possibility of a “possible proposed revision of the system, involving a modification of the base act”, Ciolos concluded. (LC)