COPA-Cogeca calls for action amid falling income in the EU in 2009
The new figures from Euro stat confirmed the sharp decline in farm incomes of the EU in 2009 and have led to the Copa-Cogeca to call for "urgent steps" to alleviate the crisis in the European agricultural sector.
The second estimates from Euro stat for the economic accounts for agriculture in 2009 shows that EU farm incomes fell last year up 11.6% on average, once considered the effects of inflation.
Several sectors have been particularly affected in the EU, with falls of up to 30% for cereals, 24% for olive oil, 21% for the dairy industry and 12% for fruit. One of the
From Brussels, the Secretary General of Copa-Cogeca, Pokka Personnel, said "These figures confirm our worst fears. This situation has become untenable. Even before the current crisis, the average farm income amounted to only 50% of average incomes of other sectors. Politicians in the EU must take immediate action to alleviate the downturn. The Copa-Cogeca urges the immediate implementation of measures for fruit and vegetables, through increased opportunities withdrawal.
They should be managed in a reasonable stock of the dairy sector and in the case of cereals, must be used with full use of market management measures. In addition, we ask that you activate the private storage of olive oil. You will need a strong CAP for the period after 2013, to continue considering direct payments to farmers. Should be given priority to strengthening the role of economic production that played by farmers. In the absence of a significant improvement in market conditions, will more farmers to leave the rural areas of the EU. "