Speaking at a meeting with the Dutch Presidency in Luxembourg, Cogeca President Thomas Magnusson said “The market situation at farm level is really not improving, being hit by a combination of factors including the economic downturn, high input costs and low prices as well as the Russian export ban. Farmers are suffering from severe liquidity problems. The UK vote in favour of Brexit in the EU Referendum adds to the uncertainty. It will be crucial to avoid any further disruptions to the market. We urge Ministers to agree on a new package of measures to support the sector, using additional funds without affecting the crisis reserve. New tools must be activated and new markets found using exports credits to give traders more certainty when they export”.
Copa & Cogeca consequently welcome the calls from many Ministers today for a new package of measures to be presented by EU Farm Commissioner Phil Hogan in July but call to ensure it is financed by additional funds, without affecting the crisis reserve.
Copa & Cogeca Secretary-General Pekka Pesonen went on to regret that not all political points have been agreed on the new EU organic rules and that they have been put on hold until Slovakia takes over the EU Council Presidency on July 1. “We believe that many improvements have been made to the text compared to the EU Commissions initial proposals like keeping mixed farms in it as this gives farmers an incentive to convert gradually but we want the new rules to be introduced quickly so that producers have clarity on the rules. They cannot afford a long period without political and legal guidance because of all the uncertainties for their businesses and investments”, Pesonen said in a meeting with the Dutch Presidency.
Wrapping up, Mr Magnusson went on to express his extreme disappointment at the way the dossier concerning re-authorisation of the herbicide active substance glyphosate has been handled since it has many environmental benefits and the EU Food Safety Authority (EFSA) gave it a positive assessment. “It will also make EU farmers less competitive if we lose it”, Magnusson said. And he urged the Commission to re-authorise it at the end of the month.
