Agrifish, Bellanova: “recovery plan for suffering sectors. Pac is the center of attention "

A concrete relaunch plan, endowed with adequate financial resources, to support agricultural businesses, "especially those in the sectors most affected": this is the request that Minister Teresa Bellanova has brought to the attention of the Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers of the EU during today's meeting of the Agrifish Council, convened by videoconference by the Croatian presidency to take stock of the measures taken so far in relation to Covid-19 aimed at limiting the negative impact of the pandemic on these sectors.

“The agricultural sector played a fundamental role in this phase, guaranteeing European citizens a constant, sustainable and quality food supply. For this reason - Bellanova pointed out - we must make every possible effort to support agricultural businesses, especially those operating in the sectors most affected. And I hope that this will be duly taken into account, also with the "Farm to Fork" strategy, which the Commission has announced for the end of this month ".

As for the individual points, "some measures taken," said Bellanova, "in particular the private storage, are certainly going in the desired direction even if they are measures characterized by a very limited or inadequate scope, very expensive and obsolete, or unfortunately incomplete. And on this I ask the Commission for decisive action "

For the wine sector, Bellanova assessed insufficient "only greater flexibility" and urgent "a concrete recovery plan, equipped with adequate financial resources, in particular to invest in promotion".

Thus for the fruit and vegetables sector: "the Community co-financing rate must be increased in the operational funds of the operational programs, a zero-cost operation for the Union budget".

And for floriculture, where, the Minister pointed out, "planning production in the cut flower sector is of little use, if we consider that the entire production of the months of March and April was destroyed or destined for pulping".

And if on rural development "the Commission proposal is very interesting" the scope "is too limited". “The seriousness of the situation requires greater openness. We ask that the limit of 1 percent be raised to 5 percent, "urged the Minister.

As regards fishing, “maximum flexibility in the modification of the EMFF Operational Programs will be important, with particular regard to the remodeling and movement of funds necessary for the emergency. Deadlines, for Union obligations, must also be able to be suspended or postponed.

And for the bluefin tuna fishing campaign it will be very important to be able to give flexibility, providing for those adjustments to the rules necessary to face a reality that has changed greatly due to force majeure ”.

"The common agricultural policy", concluded Bellanova, must be brought back to the political attention of the future Union and the Commission must make itself heard. Among other things, in full COVID emergency, it is unthinkable to attribute to the PAC blame that it does not have and that could be easily addressed by ensuring more effective traceability and transparency in the food chain, making it mandatory to indicate the origin of the raw materials on the label ".

Agrifish, Bellanova: “recovery plan for suffering sectors. Pac is the center of attention "