EU: AREFLH continues its lobbying actions
Crisis Management within the CMO
Last March 8th and 9th, in Sint Truiden, in Belgium, the AREFLH was pleased to announce that its lobbying has generated, amongst other things, the introduction of a mechanism of crisis management within the framework of the CMO.
However, it denounces the inadequacy of these measures and makes a certain number of constructive proposals : like implementing of multi annual mutual funds, the externalisation of the CMO for free distributions to the needy, the revaluation of the withdrawal prices for the interventions of the economic situation and the support for the investments allowing a better regulation of the offer.
The members of the 2 AREFLH colleges (the producers and the regions) also emphasized the need for developing and supporting the collective actions between producers' organizations at the regional, national and international level (European APO) because it is the weak link of the current CMO. Indeed some actions such as promotion and crisis management only find their full effectiveness in one collective approach.
From this point of view, Mr. Fabrice VERDIER, president of the assembly, strongly worries about the legal precedent created by the decision of the court against the endive producers' organizations, because it is in contradiction with the will of the Commission of the European Union.
UE/Morocco Agreement
The AREFLH recalls its position, which relates to not only Morocco, but all the agreements concerning third countries. Those must fall under a principle of reciprocity. The rules that the European producers are following for the health of the consumers and the environment must also be respected by third countries.
Two new associated regions
Two new European regions Macedonia West and Macedonia Center (Greece) took part for the very first time in the General Assembly. Central Macedonia produces 1,100. tons of fruits (113,000 ha) and 500,000 tons of vegetables (20,000 ha) of which 25% are exported. Its leading products are, amongst other things, apples, melons, pears, peach, cabbage, broccoli, salads, tomatoes and potatoes. As for West Macedonia, it is the 2nd largest Greek apple producing region (70,000 T). Its other principal productions are the potato, the tomato and the peach.
For more information:
Laetitia FORGET
AREFLH
Chargée de Communication
37 Avenue du Général de Larminat
Immeuble Point Centre
33000 BORDEAUX
Tel : 00.33.5.56.48.88.48
Fax : 00.33.5.56.48.88.40
[email protected]
www.areflh.org