Brussels, 07/03/2016 (Agence Europe) - In its contribution, dated 4 March, on measures to overcome the crisis affecting a number of agricultural sectors, Germany calls for a further financial package similar to the one in 2015 (see other article and EUROPE 11505 on the other contributions).
This second aid package would also be distributed among the EU's member states and would help alleviate farmers' cash flow problems. Germany says the package should be financed from the common agricultural policy (CAP) budget, without dipping into the crisis reserve.
Germany is opposed, however, to regulating milk supply and to increasing the intervention prices for butter and powdered milk.
Like many other countries, Germany argues for the de minimis thresholds to be raised for state aid for agricultural production and for investment by small agri-food businesses (SMEs) which, the country says, should also be given support by the European Investment Bank (EIB).
Germany also backs: - tweaking competition rules in order to strengthen farmers' negotiating position in the food supply chain; - setting up a high-level group devoted solely to the dairy sector. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)