21 June 2011

European farmers' federation Copa-Cogeca welcomed today MEPs calls to increase funds for EU fruit and vegetable producers hit by the ecoli outbreak under the proposed EU rescue package, and urged the EU Commission and EU Farm Ministers to act quickly.

The move came as the issue was debated in European Parliaments Agriculture Committee with EU Commissioner Dacian Ciolos. Copa-Cogeca Secretary-General Pekka Pesonen said “I am pleased that many MEPs supported our calls to increase funds in their meeting today. Fruit and vegetable growers have suffered greatly during this crisis, with losses estimated at 400 million euros per week. We sent a letter to Committee Chairman Paolo de Castro outlining our demands and calling for producers to be 100% compensated for their losses. Although the Commissions proposed rescue package of 210 million euros is a good start, it will not be nearly enough to compensate producers for their huge losses.  If other products have been affected and producers can prove this , they should also be compensated”.

“In addition, we are also calling for promotional measures to be activated immediately, before Autumn, as it is currently the height of the season for fruit and vegetables and it is vital to act now to restore consumer confidence. The timing of this crisis could not be worse for producers and if the EU does not act now, losses will be devastating and cause more growers to go out of business”, Mr Pesonen stressed.