Brussels, 08/02/2016 (Agence Europe) - French Prime Minister Manuel Valls accused the European Commission on Monday 8 February of doing “too little too late” to resolve the agricultural crisis.
“We have taken emergency measures since the start of this crisis but it is a European crisis, too”, he argued, calling on the Commission to “make use of the powers it has in the event of a crisis”. Demonstrations by milk, pork, beef and duck producers have been taking place all over France since the middle of January to protest at the fall in purchase prices. The price war being waged by supermarkets is one of the reasons behind the protests.
France has already submitted a memorandum suggesting avenues for regulation to address the livestock crisis being faced in several EU countries (see EUROPE 11484). In its memorandum, which has been seen by EUROPE, France makes a number of calls. In the milk sector, as well as having aid for private storage extended, it wants a temporary increase of several cents per litre in the intervention price, along with a pledge on volumes produced. It calls, too, for exceptional promotional measures both on the internal market and in third countries. It asks for guidelines so that early warning and crisis prevention mechanisms can be established, and a mechanism for EU aid to be granted to producers who voluntarily cut their production in times when prices fall. In the pigmeat sector, France recommends a reduction in sow numbers, bringing them into line with producers' fattening capacities and calls for the lifting of the Russian embargo on pork fats and offal.
The Commission has highlighted the measures taken to help the sectors in difficulty. These include €420 million to help EU farmers who are facing difficult times (milk and pigmeat sectors). “It's up to the member states to make use of this money”, argued the spokesperson for Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)