Brussels, 19/09/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 22 September, the European Parliament is likely to call for a “genuine integrated EU strategy for mountain areas” and say that the publication of a Green Paper is an important first step in this direction. Voting on the own initiative report by Michl Ebner (EPP-ED, Italy) will be held the following day.
The report points out that more than half the territory of some member states (Greece, Spain, Austria and Portugal) is mountainous and that the farming community remains a significant element in those areas. Moreover, mountain areas suffer “intensely” from the effects of climate change and extreme weather phenomena, such as drought and fires. The report points out that mountain areas face handicaps that make it less easy for agriculture adapt to competitive conditions and entail extra costs so that it cannot produce very competitive products at low prices.
The report calls on the Commission to draw up an integrated EU strategy for the sustainable development and use of resources in mountain areas (EU strategy for mountain areas) within six months of the adoption of this resolution. Among the other measures proposed in the report are: - greater account to be taken of the “multifunctionality of mountain and hill farming” in future Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reforms, including adapting rural development rules and compensation to be paid for the ecological benefits of this type of farming; - compensatory payments for mountain areas should continue in the long term; - the establishment of a fund for disadvantaged areas using resources from the second pillar of the CAP (rural development) which have not been used; - special financial assistance for the dairy sector (dairy farmers and processors) and accompanying measures to reduce the negative impact of the removal of quotas; - more support for producer associations, farming cooperatives, and inter-sectoral partnerships such as Leader-groups; - the maintenance of grass premiums and the introduction of additional per-hectare payments for organic farming and extensive grazing; - measures for the protection and promotion of quality traditional and typical regional products; - more assistance for young farmers; - setting up databases to preserve genetic material of indigenous mountain plant and animal species with the aim of maintaining biodiversity. (L.C./transl.rt)