By Anne-France White - 24th January 2007
Mariann Fischer Boel has unveiled bold plans to shake up production subsidies in Europe’s fruit and vegetable sector.
The EU’s agriculture commissioner wants to scrap a great deal of EU farming subsidies, worth €1.5 billion per year.
In line with the sweeping reform of the EU’s agriculture policy agreed in 2003, Fischer Boel plans to ‘decouple’ farm payments – that is, break the link between how much a farmer produces and how many subsidies he receives.
The Danish commissioner also says farmers who get the new-style payments will have to spend at least 20 per cent of them on projects to protect the environment.
The proposal aims to strengthen the producer organisations, which represent farmers in their dealings with large retail chains.
“The fruit and vegetable sector is under increasing pressure from retail chains,” Fischer Boel told journalists.
“The aim is to improve the competitiveness and the market orientation of the sector,” she added.
Finally, the proposal includes renewed efforts to boost fruit and veg consumption.
"The WHO recommends average daily consumption of 400 grams of fruit and vegetables. Currently, only Greece and Italy reach this level -- that is why we need to redouble our efforts to stimulate consumption," she said.
The plan is now due to be presented to farm ministers next week – although it will not be debated in detail for another few months.
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