The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food, Luis Planas, closed the 61st Fepex Assembly, which was held online, by reiterating his support for the new CAP to include the fruit and vegetable sector in decoupled aid, to end a discriminatory situation, and by stating that they were working so that the flower and ornamental plant sector can benefit from sector programs.
The Minister of Agriculture highlighted the competitiveness and market orientation of the Spanish fruit and vegetable sector, which is the leading producer in the EU, as well as its extraordinary performance during the toughest moments of the pandemic.
Regarding the opportunities that the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) opens up, the minister referred to the Spanish proposal for the inclusion of the whole fruit and vegetable sector in decoupled aid, which has been one of Fepex's priorities since these aids were implemented. In addition, Planas said Spain wants the cut flower and ornamental plant sector to benefit from future sector programs, a proposal also positively valued by Fepex, as it will allow the inclusion of the flower and plant sector to make part of the National Strategic Plan interventions and to set up producer organizations.
He also spoke about the participation of the Ministry of Agriculture in the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan stating that they would invest 563 million euro for sustainable and precision irrigation in order to promote water-saving and energy efficiency. They will also invest 120 million euro for the comprehensive modernization of greenhouses to orient them towards the circular economy and more sustainable production models.
In addition, Planas highlighted the importance of the Brexit agreement reached between the EU and the United Kingdom and valued the delay in the entry into force of the requirement for phytosanitary certificates and border controls.
The Fepex Assembly has also analyzed the threats faced by the fruit and vegetable producer and exporter sectors, such as the increasing competition from third countries -which have to comply with fewer obligations than Community producers- and consumer preference for Spanish products in the EU markets; a very important issue for the Spanish sector, as 95% of its exports are sent to the EU.
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Fepex
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www.fepex.es