Brussels, 06/12/2004 (Agence Europe) - To prevent a fall in prices in Europe, the Comité des Organisations professionnelles agricoles de l'Union Européenne" (COPA)and the "Conféderation Générales des Coopératives Agricoles de l'Union Européenne" (COGECA) are calling on the European Commission to "grant export refunds as soon as possible in order to offset the interest rates gaps" in the cereal sector. In a press statement published on Monday, these farming organisations explain that, "while world market prices in US$ have remained at a good level at the beginning of the marketing year, prices in EUR on the internal market have all but eroded and dangerously reduced the competitiveness of European cereals on the export market". Without these refunds, co-operatives and producers, "will be constrained throughout the market year to put considerable quantities in intervention, including maize", warned the two organisations.