Brussels, 25/02/2004 (Agence Europe) - The Committee of Agricultural Organisations in the EU (COPA) and the General Confederation of Agricultural Co-operatives (COGECA) held a seminar (co-funded by the European Commission- in Brussels on 19 and 20 February, on the situation in the flower and plant sectors of old and new Member States of the EU. The sector, which called for Community support in the form of aid, was well represented.
MEP Giovanni Procacci (ELDR, Italy) pointed out that cut flower producers were faced with strong competition from third countries, and stated that over 80% of cut flowers enter the EU free of duty. The President of the EU Standing Group on Flowers and Plants, Ennio Fazio, asked the EU to adopt measures to help the restructuring of the sector. Mr Fazio underlined that the sector received no direct support from the EU, and called for Community funding, especially for the promotion of this activity in third countries. He also pleaded in favour of the implementation of rural development measures to support investment in a sector which employs over 500,000 directly (full-time equivalent) in the EU. Several speakers from the new Member States gave clarifications on the restructuring process underway in their country. The debate showed the need for research and development activities, for certification methods (like the system used in the Netherlands), and a better assessment of market needs to respond to consumer demand.