Brussels, 08/10/2015 (Agence Europe) - European Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan told the French Senate in Paris on Thursday 8 October: “I believe the Commission's strong response to the recent situation (€500 million package) will stabilise markets in the short-term, restoring confidence to the sector”.
He pointed out that, aside from allowing direct payments to be advanced, the Commission had released €420 million that member states can distribute to farmers. He highlighted the measures taken to stabilise markets (including the new improved private storage scheme for skimmed milk powder and cheese). He repeated that increasing the price paid for public intervention would “do nothing to restore market balance but would instead create an artificial outlet for EU dairy products”. And for pigmeat, he said the Commission was “willing to act in the market at the right time, with a new private storage scheme which will be extended for the first time to fresh lard”.
Russian embargo. Russia has imposed further health barriers on pigmeat-based products. “My colleague Commissioner Andriukaitis is responding to your concerns by committing to do everything possible to resume trade on the products hit by the SPS ban. However we will need to see a real change in attitude on the Russian side first”, said Hogan. Increasing export opportunities will be another key step in ensuring the future of EU producers, he said. Addressing the issue of EU-United States trade negotiations, “I wish to assure you that I will be proactive in promoting the opening of this important market to high quality EU products, in particular our origin products. I will also remain vigilant in protecting EU standards”, he stated. Lastly, it is the commissioner's intention to make the CAP simpler for farmers (simplifying rule). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)