The delegations of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia submitted a document to the Agriculture Council on Monday 6 March calling for improvements in the way the food supply chain operates (see EUROPE 11699).
These seven delegations call for a European legislative framework to regulate certain unfair business practices and for tools to enhance producers’ negotiating power. The request was supported by a number of agriculture ministers. However, Belgium, Germany and Denmark, in particular, opposed putting in place Community measures to address unfair business practices and stated their preference for a voluntary approach.
European Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan said that work was being done on this issues in a number of Commission directorates general. The Commission should be in a position later in the year to bring forward proposals. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)