Copa & Cogeca Secretary-General Pekka Pesonen warned “ Fruit and vegetable growers are still facing a crisis situation, after being badly affected by the Russian ban on farm exports; Russia was one of the biggest markets for our exports. Prices have still not recovered and exports in March were still lower compared to previous levels.”
“We welcome the sense of urgency the Commission has applied to this as a positive step and that support has been extended from 1 July to 30 June 2017. But its unacceptable that the Commission has cut the quantities eligible for support by 70% under the new EU aid scheme and that compensation to producers for the withdrawals is so low”, added Pesonen.
Copa and Cogeca consequently urge the EU Commission to:
- Base the guaranteed maximum allocated to Member States on the amount they exported to Russia and on their fruit and vegetable production.
- Raise the level of compensation for withdrawing produce from the market; prioritise other purposes than free distribution.
- Ensure a shortened deadline to pay farmers.
- Raise the volume from 3,000 to 5,000 tonnes for the Member States and allow them flexibility on the eligibility of products.