The difficulties faced by the pig meat, dairy and fruit and vegetables markets were at the forefront of discussions at the Agriculture Council held in Luxembourg on Monday 11 April 2016.
Luxembourg's Minister of Agriculture, Viticulture and Consumer Protection, Fernand Etgen, was in attendance at the Council, at which the Commission briefed ministers present on the progress made in the implementation of the market support measures for these sectors which were agreed in March earlier this year. The Commission further presented on the possible use of the European Fund for Strategic Investments as a means of addressing the request for financial support in the agriculture sector. The package of measures approved in March contained as a main action the voluntary reduction of production which would in return bring state financial assistance. European funds having not been released for this purpose, the Commission pledged greater flexibility for state aid to Member States.
However, Minister Etgen asked the Commission for as flexible an approach as possible in response to the restrictions and constraints determined in relation to the measures package. The sentiment was echoed by a majority of those present, who requested that the measures be adjusted in order for farmers to be able to more rapidly and effectively draw on them.
It also emerged that additional measures in the areas of supply and demand are also needed in order to overcome the crisis. Fernand Etgen reiterated the need to promote the quality of Europe's agricultural products within and outside the region to this end.
Regarding negotiations with Mercosur, Member States generally agreed that the time was not right to restart negotiations, with many perceiving that such an agreement could have a negative impact on European agriculture and so the negotiations could be misunderstood by farmers and their representatives.
The ministers additionally discussed the theme of food fraud. It was determined that the current market situation would create conditions susceptible to fraud, with Member States emphasising the importance of gathering preventive efforts and coordinating their programmes to fight against fraud in agro-food products.
"The market situation in several key agriculutral sectors, notably the dairy, pig meat and fruit and vegetables sectors remains of great concern," commented Martijn van Dam, Dutch Minister for Agriculture and chair of the Council. "Last March, we found common ground on a set of realistic and feasible measures to alleviate the situation of farmers in these sectors. Today, the Commission gave us an update on the progress in the implementation of the March aid package. We will continue to monitor closely the evolution of the market. A thorough debate on this matter will take place at the meeting of the Agriculture Council in June."
Photo by MAVPC (Fernand Etgen at Agriculture Council
