Europe's fruit and vegetable growers need help in gaining entry to new markets such as those in China and the Middle East following Russia's ban on agricultural exports from the EU.
The rallying cry comes as Copa-Cogeca steps up its fight to get additional support for the EU fresh produce sector, warning that producers' livelihoods are threatened and that prices are hitting rock-bottom.
While welcoming EU Commission action to support the EU fruit and vegetable sector, the trade body noted that with EU producer prices falling by 50 per cent in some cases, the aid package will not be enough on its own.
Copa-Cogeca secretary-general, Pekka Pesonen, said: “Around 10 per cent of our exports are sent to Russia, worth €11 billion annually, and the support allocated so far is not nearly enough to compensate fruit and vegetable producers for the effects of it.
'Additional aid is needed to prevent the market from spiraling out of control, causing further damage to the economy.'
Pesonen also backed those Polish farmers who, in a similar vein to agricultural workers from Spain, took to the streets of Brussels last week (18 August) in an attempt to highlight their plight.
He added: 'The ban is hitting many countries across Europe hard. Farmers and agri-cooperatives are already confronted by serious challenges like poor weather, and this is the last thing they need. The dispute is not our fault yet it's our sector that is being hit the most.'
Copa-Cogeca is calling for the implementation of extraordinary market measures, if the market justifies it, alongside an acceleration of the date of payment for direct payments, a speeding up of promotion campaigns to stimulate new demand, and the unearthing of new market outlets for EU growers' produce in the likes of China and the Middle East.
Initial estimates, the trade body has claimed, show that the damage will be much bigger than the €400 million available in the CAP crisis fund: 'The support must consequently not be financed out of the CAP budget only, but also from other funds,' Pesonen said.
Copa-Cogeca's presidents, together with the presidents of national farm organisations and co-operatives from across Europe, are meeting in Brussels this week (w/c 25 August) to examine the extent of the damage and to discuss what further action is needed. The meeting comes just before EU ministers meet on September 5, where the issue will no doubt be high up on the agenda.
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