Brussels, 16/06/2016 (Agence Europe) - Copa-Cogeca, the organisation of EU farmers and agri-cooperatives, published the results on Wednesday 15 June of a survey it conducted in the first quarter of this year. These show that confidence amongst farmers is at an all-time low as a result of the Russian ban on imports of EU agricultural products, the collapse in oil prices and soaring input costs.
Copa-Cogeca Secretary General Pekka Pesonen calls on EU agriculture ministers to agree fresh market and support measures when they next meet, in Luxembourg on 17 June (see EUROPE 11572).
In nine of the eleven member states (Belgium [Flanders], Germany, France, Italy, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, and the United Kingdom) where the survey was carried out, farmers' confidence had fallen in the first three months of the year as a result of the crises in the dairy, pigmeat, and fruit and vegetables sectors. Concerns about implementation of the common agricultural policy (CAP) and red tape also caused many difficulties for farmers and growers. Only Danish and Swedish farmers showed greater optimism for the present and future situations. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)