Brussels, 23/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - Copa (agricultural organisations in the EU) and Cogeca (agricultural cooperatives in the EU) sent a letter to the European Commission on Friday 20 March calling for further assistance for fruit and vegetable producers hit by the Russian ban on the import of EU agricultural produce.
Copa-Cogeca Secretary General Pekka Pesonen states that average prices for fruit and vegetables, far lower than the average in previous years, remain very low. “Market prices do not even cover production costs and producers are experiencing serious liquidity problems”, he says.
Copa-Cogeca argues that “the withdrawal of products from the market which are then distributed free depends on the demands of charities and storage capacity is reaching its limits. That is why we need to increase compensation for withdrawals for other uses like for compost and biogas to take into account transport costs and free up some storage space for the upcoming season”.
Copa-Cogeca is calling for summer fruits (peaches and nectarines notably) and red fruits to be eligible for the aid scheme (aid scheme for perishable fruits and vegetables) to prevent the market deteriorating for these products in the upcoming season. “We urge the Commission to introduce a 5,000 tonne quota per member state to use accordingly.”
Finally, money allocated to the scheme must also be kept for fruit and vegetables as funds have not yet been fully used, Copa-Cogeca argues. (Lionel Changeur)