Presidents of AREPO and AREFLH jointly organized the European event for quality products, fruit and vegetables on Wednesday, march 25th, at the headquarters of Hessen – Emilia-Romagna and Aquitaine delegations in Brussels.
From left to right: Josep Maria Peligri I Aixut – President of AREFLH ; Commissioner Phil Hogan ; Vincent Labarthe – President of AREPO. (Copyright:© Thierry Monasse)
A high-level thematic conference on promotion, innovation and market access in the afternoon was followed by a presentation/tasting of regional products of AREFLH and AREPO’s members in the evening. 19 tables of regional products and 2 wine bars showed the diversity and quality of European productions of fruit, vegetables and quality products under PDO and PGI.
The conference was an opportunity to pay tribute both to the memory of Guy Saint-Martin, former Vice- President of the Regional Council of Aquitaine who was the founder and the first president of AREFLH and AREPO and in memory of the A320 crash victims of the Germanwings company.
Mr Diego Canga Fano, Director of multilateral relations and quality policy at the European commission, highlighted the high standards implemented by European producers and the necessity to let it be known on internal market and especially export markets. To reach this goal, financial means are needed that the European commission will provide to producers increasingly up to € 200 million per year at the end of the program in 2020.
MEP Paolo de Castro, protractor for the European parliament on TTIP agreements, told of the attention he pays to the construction of transatlantic agreements as fair as possible. He reminded that if we have to pay attention to the recognition and the protection of geographical indications, TTIP agreements in discussion are also a real opportunity to seize towards a market of 320 millions of inhabitants.
MEP Herbert Dorfmann, explained how he defends “modern” regulation mechanisms which can help producers without violating the rules of both internal and external competition. He chose as an example the “apple sector” which he knows well in his home province of Bolzano in Italy.
Experts of both sectors of Fruit and vegetables and quality products have provided concrete evidence about the difficulties of these sectors and on AREFLH and AREPO’s propositions.
Ministers of agriculture of Lombardia – Gianni Fava – and Emilia-Romagna – Simona Caselli – have testified about the experience in their regions and about the guidance established by local authorities to support these essential productions for territorial development.
Commissioner of agriculture and rural development, Phil Hogan, first vice-president of Comagri of European Parliament, Eric Andrieu, and Presidents of AREPO and AREFLH have closed the debate.
Vincent Labarthe, President of AREPO, requested that the true origins of the products are protected against fraud. It is the responsibility of governments to protect producers, territories and consumers. On market access and trade agreements, he said that, without letting go of the requirements on the environment and on the security of workers and consumers, the EU must find a balance between an open market, probably the most open in the world, and the protection of its economy and its territories. Finally, on innovation, he reminded that the territories are alive and evolving, including when territories produce traditional products under PGI and PDO. What is a tradition, if not an innovation that has succeeded and that we have carried on? Traditions of tomorrow will be today's innovations. AREPO is committed to the regions and sectors on all these issues.
Josep Maria Peligri i Aixut, President of AREFLH, has reminded the commitment of the entire sector to the maintenance of the European program of distribution of fruit and vegetables in schools. This program targets young people who are notably low consumers in a context of significant decrease of the consumption. Then, he highlighted the urgency of establishing an effective and responsive system for prevention and crisis management within the CMO. The embargo put in place by the Russian authorities on food products and fruit and vegetables, which are particularly affected, reminded the fragility of fruit and vegetables in this regard. Finally, he made himself spokesman for producers organizations and their associations for an operational and legally and financially secure CMO.
Commissioner Phil Hogan, who praised the work of both AREPO and AREFLH networks, highlighted the importance of the commitment of both Regions and producers organizations on the European stage. He reminded his top priorities for the coming months: aid for young farmers (via innovative financing set up with the European Investment Bank), CAP simplification, new markets development and TTIP negotiations in which the issue of geographical indications will be specifically under scrutiny.
For more information
AREPO
Laurent Gomez
AREFLH
Jacques Dasque