As expected, the European Commission has today announced a €500m package aimed at supporting European farmers in the face of weak farmgate prices, particularly in the dairy, grain and pigmeat sectors.
The €500m support package agreed by the Commission is totally new funding and will be separate from the 70% advance on direct payments for farmers as part of their Basic Payment Scheme.
The Commission says the focus of the €500m supports will be threefold:
To address the cashflow difficulties currently facing EU farmersTo stabilise marketsTo address the functionality of the food supply chainIt is proposed the most significant part of the €500m support package will be given to EU member states to support individual dairy sectors.
“This package will allow for €500m of EU funds to be used for the benefit of farmers immediately. This is a robust and decisive response,” said Jyrki Katainen, vice-president of the Commission, who was speaking after the special meeting of EU agriculture ministers today.
“This response demonstrates that the Commission takes its responsibility towards farmers very seriously and is prepared to back it up with the appropriate funds. This is particularly important, given other competing budgetary demands,” he added.
Speaking earlier today on his way into the special meeting of EU Agriculture ministers, Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney said he expected a comprehensive range of measures to be tabled today to help EU farmers.
He added that steps likely to be proposed included stepped up Aids to Private Storage schemes for cheese and pigmeat.
“I think you’ll also see a proposal for an advance of the EU direct payments, of 70% or possibly even higher. We’ve pushed for that,” said Coveney.
The minister also said there would be a lump sum package available to help farmers get through this difficult time. He said he expected some proposals which would address medium- and long-term problems in the marketplace. “There is absolutely an issue there with the percentage of the final market price which is paid by consumers. Farmers’ share is going down every year.”
He said: “I think Phil Hogan understands the problems facing farmers and has worked hard to come up with good proposals. The decision then for ministers is whether it’s enough. Our job is to get as much as possible.”
Read more from Brussels
Further details on €500m Hogan package
Coveney expects comprehensive package of measures
Dairy farmers need cashflow help as bills are not being paid
EU’s farmers speaking in one loud voice
As expected, the European Commission has today announced a €500m package aimed at supporting European farmers in the face of weak farmgate prices, particularly in the dairy, grain and pigmeat sectors.
The €500m support package agreed by the Commission is totally new funding and will be separate from the 70% advance on direct payments for farmers as part of their Basic Payment Scheme.
The Commission says the focus of the €500m supports will be threefold:
To address the cashflow difficulties currently facing EU farmersTo stabilise marketsTo address the functionality of the food supply chainIt is proposed the most significant part of the €500m support package will be given to EU member states to support individual dairy sectors.
“This package will allow for €500m of EU funds to be used for the benefit of farmers immediately. This is a robust and decisive response,” said Jyrki Katainen, vice-president of the Commission, who was speaking after the special meeting of EU agriculture ministers today.
“This response demonstrates that the Commission takes its responsibility towards farmers very seriously and is prepared to back it up with the appropriate funds. This is particularly important, given other competing budgetary demands,” he added.
Speaking earlier today on his way into the special meeting of EU Agriculture ministers, Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney said he expected a comprehensive range of measures to be tabled today to help EU farmers.
He added that steps likely to be proposed included stepped up Aids to Private Storage schemes for cheese and pigmeat.
“I think you’ll also see a proposal for an advance of the EU direct payments, of 70% or possibly even higher. We’ve pushed for that,” said Coveney.
The minister also said there would be a lump sum package available to help farmers get through this difficult time. He said he expected some proposals which would address medium- and long-term problems in the marketplace. “There is absolutely an issue there with the percentage of the final market price which is paid by consumers. Farmers’ share is going down every year.”
He said: “I think Phil Hogan understands the problems facing farmers and has worked hard to come up with good proposals. The decision then for ministers is whether it’s enough. Our job is to get as much as possible.”
Read more from Brussels
Further details on €500m Hogan package
Coveney expects comprehensive package of measures
Dairy farmers need cashflow help as bills are not being paid
EU’s farmers speaking in one loud voice
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