Members of the European Parliament, representatives of agricultural organisations within the EU and experts, advocated measures to strengthen food sovereignty in Europe, at a conference organised on Wednesday 26 March at the invitation of Esther Herranz García (EPP, Spanish), Elsi Katainen (Renew Europe, Finnish) and Éric Sargiacomo (S&D, French).
Maud Cloarec and Anne-Louise Sabatier (Biolait) stressed the need to fund ‘operational programmes’ for producer organisations in the organic milk sector.
Thami Benzina (Oleostepa) spoke about the organisation of the olive-growing sector in Spain and called for more support to encourage consumption of this product on international markets.
Ludovic Roux, President of the Vignerons Coopérateurs de France and Vice-Chairman of the Copa-Cogeca Wine Group, explained how planting authorisations work. Vineyard growth is limited to 1% per country per year and replanting is possible within a maximum of five years (two years to apply for authorisation and three years to replant). As part of the ‘wine package’ to be presented on Friday 28 March (see EUROPE 13595/6), he has asked the European Commission to relax the criteria to a minimum of eight years, or even more. “I know there are discussions about 13 or even 15 years, but in any event, we need greater flexibility”, he said. For new plantations, growth can be limited by production area or by GI, but cannot reach 0%. “We would eventually like to reach zero in the event of major crises”. Mr Roux also recommended measures to strengthen the structure of the sectors and support producers’ incomes.
Jorge Conesa (Fair Trade Advocacy Office) gave examples of how the lessons of Fair Trade can be used to improve the livelihoods of European farmers.
Strategic stocks. Corentin Biardeau-Noyers (The Shift Project) spoke about tools for dealing with dependencies and vulnerabilities, Kjartan Poulsen (EMB) talked about the experience of the 2016 voluntary milk production reduction programme and Franck Galtier (CIRAD) defended strategic grain stocks and flexible biofuel policies. Finland’s Axel Hagelstam (NESA) spoke about strategic food stocks.
A final debate took place on the subject of trade and ‘mirror clauses’. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)