Speaking to MEPs Agriculture Committee, Cogeca Vice-President Thomas Magnusson said “Agri-cooperatives enable farmers to join forces to market their produce and get a better price for it. This is particularly important when farmers are faced with increasing challenges and have lost their main export market – Russia – overnight. The report confirms the importance of EU agri-cooperatives for the economy and growth and jobs, employing some 600, 000 people mostly in rural areas. The EU Commission has also put increasing emphasis on agri-cooperatives under the reformed CAP”.
He went on to welcome the launch of the Juncker Investment plan which will help to boost growth and jobs in Europe. “We believe that agri-cooperatives should be included in the list of projects supported by the European Investment Bank (EIB). In particular, the agri-food, renewable energy and bio-economy sectors must be amongst the priority areas eligible for investment in the Plan”, he said.
The 400 page report “Development of agricultural cooperatives in the EU 2014” presents up to date information and trends by country and by sector on the leading agri-cooperatives in the EU.
The report is based on information provided by Cogeca Member organisations as well as by the European Commission and EU statistical office EUROSTAT. Please find here the web-link to access the full report: http://www.copa-cogeca.eu/Download.ashx?ID=1407467
