Luxembourg, 24/10/2000 (Agence Europe) - A Copa delegation (agricultural organisations) led by its Vice-President, Jean-Paul Bastian, and of Cogeca (agricultural cooperatives), led by its President, Mr. Campli, met the President of the EU Agriculture Council, French Minister Mr. Glavany, to tell him of the negative reactions of the farming world to recent Commission proposals. The strong criticisms by farmers relate to the following proposals:
- Fruit and vegetables. Sufficient budgetary resources need releasing for a fair reform of the sector;
- Rice. The reform is necessary but the way the Commission has proposed going about it is unacceptable for farmers. It does not allow for the European production potential to be conserved.
- Sugar. A small reform, limited to 2 years (followed be a radical change to the current regime) is in contradiction with the decision of the Berlin Summit that established a framework for the CAP until 2006. The current regime must be extended for 5 to 6 years without major changes. Copa and Cogeca regard "the Commission's reversal" as "incomprehensible".
- Imports from the least developed countries. Total free access, with neither customs duties nor quotas, for rice and sugar is unacceptable as it represents "a very serious threat for the European Union's rice, beet and sugar producers".
Copa and Cogeca have asked for European support for French and Italian farmers affected by serious flooding, so that they may continue their task of maintaining and managing the territory.
