Copa-Cogeca has called on EU Farm Ministers and the EU Commission to urgently introduce additional measures to support EU farmers and cooperatives hit by the ban on EU exports to Russia, describing the situation as 'a severe crisis'.
In a high-level meeting with the Italian Presidency, Copa President Albert Jan Maat stressed: “More measures are needed to help farmers and agri-cooperatives deal with this crisis situation. Prices in the EU fruit and vegetable and dairy sectors have plummeted by over 50 per cent in some member states, since 29 per cent of EU fruit and vegetable exports are normally sent to Russia and 33 per cent of cheese exports. Action taken so far has helped to stabilise the EU dairy and fruit and vegetable markets but further measures are vital to prevent the markets from collapsing altogether.
“I urge the Commissioner to do everything in his power to encourage export promotion campaigns to stimulate new demand and find new market outlets for our produce,' he continued. 'Red tape needs to be cut and non-tariff barriers to trade tackled. For example in the fruit and vegetable sector, phytosanitary barriers prevent the European fruit from entering the US market. This needs to be addressed.
'Ministers should also encourage the use of the EU school milk and fruit and vegetable schemes which help develop healthy eating habits at an early age,' he added. 'In addition, producers who don’t belong to producer organisations (POs) must get the same amount of compensation for withdrawals as those belonging to producer organisations to ensure a level playing field. In view of the serious market situation, producers need to be enabled to better manage supplies on the market, by fully utilising article 222 of the EU regulation.”
Outlining further actions, Cogeca President Christian Pees stressed: 'The list of fruit and vegetables eligible for withdrawal measures should be expanded to include for example citrus fruit and the quantities increased. The reference price must be updated so that it covers increasing production costs. The aid package worth €125m for fruit and vegetable is not nearly enough to support the sector. Support must consequently not be financed only out of the CAP budget but also from other funds.'
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