Copa and Cogeca welcomed the result of the vote in the European Parliament, which confirmed that the fruit and vegetable sector must continue to be based on producer organisations, such as cooperatives, and that this model will be promoted.
The resolution calls on the Commission to increase support to help fruit and vegetable producers in the formation of producer organisations, such as cooperatives, and to eliminate unfair practices and abuse in the food chain.
The document states that producers do not obtain decent earnings due to the pressure exerted by large retail chains. The Secretary General of Copa-Cogeca said that producer organisations allow producers to sell their products and obtain higher prices. Manufacturers should thus be encouraged to organise themselves to improve their position in the food chain.
They also called for the need to simplify the rules, reduce red tape and increase the predictability of the legal framework for inspections and penalties under the new CAP without changing basic political decisions on the reform of 2013. There should additionally be a boost to training and the exchange of good practices.
