Brussels, 12/10/2006 (Agence Europe) - On 12 October, the European Parliament called for immediate and long-term measures to be put in place to help the soft fruit (strawberries, gooseberries, raspberries) and cherry for processing sector out of the current crisis.
Adopting a resolution put forward by the Agriculture committee, the EP called on the Commission to take immediate steps to initiate training measures and to improve the marketing infrastructure in the European soft fruit and cherry sector. It also called for the sector to be included in EU processing aid schemes similar to those for tomatoes, pears, peaches and citrus fruit. MEPs said that producers in the new Member States should receive increased aid to form and administer producers' group. They also proposed financial aid to take old soft fruit and cherry plantations out of production in the event of prolonged supply surpluses.
Parliament called, too, for the simplification of provisions and crisis support arrangements for soft fruit ands cherry producers suffering losses as a result of adverse weather conditions. As part of the reform of the common market organisation in the fruit and vegetable sector, the Commission was called on to introduce compensation arrangements for producers to cover situations in which crops of soft fruit and cherries were not brought to market as a result of unforeseen and temporary difficulties stemming from market surpluses. The EP also called for the introduction of a labelling system to indicate the country of origin of agricultural products used for processing foods. MEPs called on Poland to put an end to the fiscal disadvantages suffered by producer groups, so as to encourage producers to form associations products and so that they can make optimal use of Community aid.
The Commission was called on immediately to implement measures restricting “excessive imports of soft fruits from third countries” and to consider adopting qualified market access, “which would make imports of products from third countries conditional on compliance with environmental and social standards in their production corresponding to those of the European Union”. Should such standards not be complied with, this mechanism would allow a levy to be imposed on imports, “to protect European producers against dumping”. The Commission should also, MEPs said, ensure that soft fruits were brought under special safeguard clauses and the entry price arrangements. (lc)