THE COPA-COGECA COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS HAVE URGED THE COMMISSION TO COLLECT IT IN THE NEW CAP.

The European Commission report recognizes that agricultural cooperatives play a fundamental role in helping farmers obtain a better share of added value in the food chain and strengthen their market positioning.

European organizations that bring together farmers, COPA, and agricultural cooperatives, COGECA, have urged the EU institutions to ensure that these findings are fully reflected in the final agreement on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy.

These statements come on the occasion of the start of negotiations between the Commission, the Council and MEPs, with a view to a final agreement.

The 78 reports just published by the Commission, relating to support for farmers' cooperatives, demonstrate the importance of the role of agricultural cooperatives, that help farmers obtain a better share of added value in the food chain and strengthen their bargaining power within it. These are key issues to address the enormous purchasing power of a few distributors.

The reports analyze the situation in the 27 Member States. They show that when cooperatives have a high market share, the price level in the region can increase in favor of the farmer and market volatility can be reduced.

All of this is especially important given that the volatility of agricultural markets is one of the main challenges that farmers must face today.. Also, It is indicated that cooperatives have greater relevance in certain sectors and countries.

This is the case of the dairy and fruit and vegetable sectors., for example. The commitment to commercial brand strategies also varies depending on the sector.. Branded consumer products are more present in dairy and wine and, lesser extent, in the fruit and vegetable and olive sectors.

Report reveals that cooperatives are essential to ensure market access and reduce payment uncertainty. It is also confirmed that it would be beneficial to make adjustments to European competition law., as an aid to reestablishing the balance of power in the food chain.

From Brussels, the Secretary General of Copa-Cogeca, Pekka Pesonen, has declared: “Copa-Cogeca welcomes the publication of these reports, that attest to the benefits of agricultural cooperatives and the advantages that organizing in cooperatives brings to the farmer”.

These findings must be reflected in the new CAP. It is necessary to maximize the potential of cooperatives. I consider the proposal to extend the range of products for the recognition of producer organizations to be correct. (OP), like cooperatives, Pesonen points out..

It is essential that the position of farmers in the food chain is consolidated, by strengthening producer organizations and cooperatives; so that farmers can get better income from the market. However, In the new CAP, priority must be reserved for producer organizations, like cooperatives, regarding the financing of the European rural development policy; so that a viable agri-food sector can be guaranteed for the future, concluded the secretary general.