In Brussels on Thursday 3 May, the European Parliament called for an environmental payment to be established in favour of the sheep and goat sectors, as well as incentives to farmers who practise transhumance.
With the adoption (by 507 votes to 112 with 27 abstentions) of the report by Esther Herranz Garcia (EPP, Spain) on the current situation and the prospects for sheep and goat farming in the Union, Parliament states that it is in favour of maintaining, and if possible, strengthening, coupled aid for these sectors. The Commission is invited to put proposals forward on price transparency for sheep and goat farming “with a view to providing information for consumers and producers on the price of products”.
MEPs also call for the identification system of livestock to be simplified and to foresee compensation for losses incurred following predator attacks on flocks. They underline that young farmers and new arrivals should benefit from increased support.
Finally, Parliament underlines that attacks on flocks by wolves and hybrid wolf-dogs are increasing in number despite the fact that more and more means are being deployed to prevent this, at considerable cost for farmers and the community. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)