Brussels, 08/10/2014 (Agence Europe) - At the Congress of European Farmers 2014, which was held in Brussels on Tuesday 7 October, Copa-Cogeca adopted a declaration in which it stresses that farmers are going through tough times and that major improvements are required, such as a major simplification of the new common agriculture policy (CAP) and the use of funds in the event of crises.
"To deal with the crisis caused by the Russian ban on EU farm exports swiftly, a permanent application of article 222 of the CAP is necessary to enable producer organisations like agri-cooperatives to react quickly", the declaration reads.
The declaration stresses the resistance and solidity with which family farms are facing the economic crises and other challenges currently facing them. The European agricultural sector employs some 26 million people, mainly in family farms handed down from generation to generation. The sector is therefore "the hub of EU rural areas, providing quality food supplies for 500 million European consumers at the same time as maintaining the environment and biodiversity". The agricultural production of the EU-28 represents more than 400 billion euros. The EU is also the world's largest exporter of agricultural and food products, exports which represent three quarters of the net trade balance of the EU.
Yet family farms and agri-cooperatives are facing more and more challenges such as high input costs, climate change and an increasing risk of extreme weather events, barriers to trade. Often the producer price drops resulting from these are not passed on to consumers, providing a new opportunity for retailers and others in the chain to increase their own margins, thereby "causing additional imbalances in the EU agri-food chain", Copa-Cogeca argues. The agricultural organisations of the EU are calling on the European leaders to grant aid for market research to find new market outlets and increase export promotion.
Non-tariff barriers to trade also prevent the EU from maximising its full trade potential in agri-food exports. For example, in the fruit and vegetables sector, phytosanitary barriers prevent European fruit from entering the US market. Different labelling and packaging regulations can also increase the price of the product dramatically.
The new CAP brings with it the risk that "less transparency of the rules and more red tape will stifle investment and competitiveness in the sector".
Copa-Cogeca therefore calls on the European Council, Parliament and Commission to ensure that family farms are prioritised in their agendas, key tools are provided and barriers to trade tackled. In particular, the Council, Parliament and Commission are invited to ensure: - access to land and natural resources for family farms; - that investment in the sector is stepped up and research and innovation are boosted; - that the necessary conditions are established to help producer organisations such as agri-cooperatives to set up, so that farmers can better manage the extreme market volatility; - that farmers are given the opportunity to receive proper training and education; - that young farmers are given support as they face difficulties, particularly when getting started; - that the role of agricultural cooperatives is duly recognised; - that unfair and abusive practices in the food chain are addressed so that farmers have a better chance to get an income from the market; - that non-tariff barriers to trade are tackled and products covered by geographical indications are recognised and protected around the world; - that counterfeit food and agri-piracy are tackled; - the common nature of the new CAP and a reduction in red tape are guaranteed; - that additional funds on top of the CAP budget are made available in times of crisis. (LC)