The agriculture ministers of Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Slovenia argued once again in Brussels on Monday 19 June for EU legislation to combat unfair business practices and thus strengthen the position of farmers (see EUROPE 11792).
Furthermore, they said that it was not through the omnibus regulation simplifying certain provisions of the common agricultural policy (CAP) that the issue of the food supply chain should be tackled but by means of specific EU legislation.
The European Parliament, too, has called for the EU to legislate to better tackle unfair business practices and has tabled amendments on this within the omnibus regulation procedure (see EUROPE 11793).
At the European Parliament agriculture committee meeting on Monday, Slovakia's Agriculture Minister Gabriela Matečná, her Czech counterpart Marián Jurečka and Slovenian opposite number Dejan Židan presented the working paper of March of this year which sets out ideas for improving the operation of the food supply chain and better addressing unfair business practices. The paper has been signed by other countries (Bulgaria, Hungary, Latvia and Lithuania) and won the backing of other ministers at the March Agriculture Council (see EUROPE 11740). These countries are of the view that the Commission is taking too long to bring forward proposals. European Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan has promised to produce proposals before the end of the year.
Since a number of directorates general are involved (agriculture, competition and internal market), discussions within the Commission are proving quite difficult, the chair of the Parliament’s agriculture committee Czesław Adam Siekierski (EPP, Poland) acknowledged. “It’s a sensitive and difficult issue”, he said.
Matečná argued for appropriate legislative measures. Jurečka stated that there was a need for fair and equitable rules. He regretted the harsh dealings of some supermarkets with farmers. Retailers are taking advantage of the situation, he said. “It’s now time to take action”, he declared.
The countries taking the lead in this area are also calling for an EU framework on penalties for retailers and distributors guilty of unfair business practices. The Slovenian minister listed the sanctions available nationally. But, the current system, he said, is barely working: “The farmer can’t ask his cow to stop producing milk or switch crops all of a sudden”. When there is a crisis, however, it is the farmer who is hit by prices falls, the minister said. He stated that there exists a national office dealing with unfair business practices. He would like to see a similar body set up at EU level. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)