PRESS RELEASE
03.11.10
COPA-COGECA OPPOSES EU PROPOSALS TO CUT EU AGRICULTURE SPENDING IN 2011 AND URGES EU POLITICIANS TO REVISE DECISION
Copa-Cogeca opposed today proposals to cut EU agriculture spending by nearly 3% next year, and urged EU politicians to increase agriculture funds when they agree the 2011 EU budget in Brussels next week.
Copa-Cogeca Secretary-General Pekka Pesonen warned “EU farmers’ incomes plummeted by nearly 12% last year and are reaching critical levels, being less than 50% of average earnings of other sectors. Faced with the challenges of increasing trade liberalisation, climate change, extreme price volatility and rising world food demand, it is totally unacceptable to put further pressure on EU farmers livelihoods. Especially since there is a sizeable financial margin of 1,678.8 billion euros in the new draft budget proposal for agriculture, compared to the financial ceiling fixed in the multiannual financial framework”.
He continued: “To meet the increasing challenges, a strong Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), with sufficient budgetary resources behind it is crucial. Copa-Cogeca consequently calls on negotiators from the EU Commission, Parliament and Council to revise the draft budget for 2011 when they meet on Monday. The EU institutions are convening to try and reach an agreement on the deadlocked 2011 EU budget. Copa-Cogeca argues that farm spending must be increased, compared to 2010, in line with the increase in the total EU budget. This is vital to ensure a flourishing EU agriculture sector in the future, which employs 28 million people, who in turn contribute to the economic viability and attractiveness of rural areas”.
For further information, please contact:
Prodromos Kalaitzis Amanda Cheesley
Senior Policy Advisor Press Officer
Copa¬-Cogeca Copa-Cogeca
WWW.copa-cogeca.