Agricultural organisations and cooperatives in the EU (Copa-Cogeca) “cannot support the EU/Mercosur free trade agreement as it stands”, Copa president Christiane Lambert said on Friday 19 February at a press conference on the agricultural situation in 2021.
She also criticised the plan to include ‘social cross-compliance’ in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
With regard to the trade agreement with Mercosur, Lambert reiterated the arguments that “too many negative signals” exist “on the modes of production and processing” in these South American countries. For European beef, poultry, sugar and ethanol producers, there is “a significant risk of distortion of competition”, she stressed.
She recalled the launch of the communications campaign on the negative effects of this agreement (see EUROPE 12656/12). In particular, the draft agreement provides for the possible import of an additional 90,000 tonnes of beef, which poses a problem for EU producers.
With regard to the free trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand, they must cover the entire food chain to avoid disruptions, the president of Copa said. This organisation has concerns, particularly about the lamb sector.
Commercial policy. Copa-Cogeca welcomed the Commission’s initiatives on EU trade policy (see EUROPE 12661/1). Trade must be fair and balanced, commented Christiane Lambert. According to her, exports must enable all players to benefit and generate added value. “However, for some farmers, there isn’t always a rapid positive return, because quality requirements and costs are increasing”, she noted.
Brexit. Agnieszka Maliszewska, vice-president of Cogeca, said she was “very cautious” about the effects of the UK’s exit from the EU on agricultural trade. “We haven’t seen any huge business disruptions, but the procedures need to be monitored”. She stressed the need to remove barriers to trade, raising the subjects of labelling, phytosanitary standards, and certificates. “We need to facilitate trade and reduce bureaucracy”, she said.
CAP and social cross-compliance. Copa-Cogeca discussed the post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) with European Parliament rapporteurs on Thursday 18 February. Lambert called for the trilogues to be concluded next May so that farmers can very quickly “know the rules of the game and adapt”.
“The Commission has a facilitating role to play and does not have the same role as the two co-legislators”, she said. The European Commission Vice-President responsible for the Green Deal, Frans Timmermans, has already threatened to withdraw the Commission’s proposal if the final compromise weakens the environmental requirements of the new CAP. “Environmental ambitions must be compatible with farm economies”, Lambert said.
Finally, she criticised the European Parliament’s wish to include ‘social cross-compliance’ in the CAP. “These issues are dealt with in the Member States rather than at European level, and we do not want to interfere in this area”, the Copa president explained. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)