« Mariann Fischer Boel proposes complete reform of the fruit and vegetable sector”

Mariann Fischer Boel, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, has addressed a proposal to the EU ministers for reform of the fruit and vegetable sector so that it will be “in tune” with other crops.

The European Commissioner’s goal is to ensure by January 1st 2008 that the fruit and vegetable sector, which represents 17% of agricultural production for only 3.1% of the EU agricultural budget, has a “healthy and competitive future”.

To achieve this she proposes:

> deep changes in the system of support for producers by making Single Farm Payments the main pillar of the new common market’s organisation,

> simpler and more flexible membership rules in order to make producer organisations more attractive and allow the sector to compete with mass distribution “which is highly concentrated and benefits from an extraordinary power to exert pressure on prices”.

> replacement of the current crisis management system (withdrawals, food processing support and export refunds) by a program of crop insurance and the creation of a mutual fund financed by producer organisations and possibly support from the European Commission.

If it is indeed necessary to rethink the different European agricultural sectors within the context of a progressive liberalisation of exchanges, WOAgri believes that it is important to avoid making any decisions that could go against the objectives of the CAP and even lead to its abolition, especially since key players in international trade like the United States and Brazil are not changing their agricultural policies.

However, this seems to be the aim of Marianne Fischer Boel who, after taking on the dairy sector, is making numerous sector reforms without having analysed the results of the 2003 CAP reform and without knowledge of the international regulations that will shape tomorrow’s agriculture.

This is why WOAgri, in an effort to ensure the competitiveness of European agriculture, recommends carrying out an audit of the 2003 reform first and then enacting the necessary reforms in light of the results of this audit and the new regulations that will be defined by international organisations.