Brussels, 29/04/2005 (Agence Europe) - In discussions on changes to the EU common organisation o fruit and vegetable markets, France and Spain signed a series of common proposals on 27 April on the use of crisis management tools. According to a press release from the French farm ministry, representatives of the administration and industry of the two countries have agreed to a common approach to crisis management tools. The aim of the measures is to simply and improve the functioning of the markets through recognising producer organisations; encouraging the creation producer organisations; extending the activities eligible for EU programmes, including crisis management tools; and maintaining and improving aid for processed products.
No new Commission proposals in 2005
The Commission initially retained two options for reform of the fruit and vegetable markets, namely unveiling a proposal on fresh products in September 2005 and a proposal on processed products in 2006; or waiting until 2006 before unveiling two proposals at the same time. Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel currently favours the second option because of the large number of reports to be prepared.