Several farm organisations and agricultural cooperatives from around the EU have jointly written to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to call for a “coherent trade policy” that delivers for farmers and agri-cooperatives.
The joint letter was signed by the presidents and leaders of groups aligned to Copa Cogeca, the umbrella group for farm organisations and cooperatives in the EU.
These include Edward Carr, the president of the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS), and Francie Gorman, president of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA).
The letter says that agriculture is a “strategic sector for security and preparedness in Europe”.
“At the same time, it goes without saying that there are challenges for European farming. The farming community is confronted with an unparalleled convergence of economic, climate and social challenges, such as geopolitical instability, extreme weather events, unfair competition, higher production costs, lack of fair remuneration, and administrative burden,” the letter says.
The letter went on to say that, in recent months, the “optics on trade from the agricultural sector’s perspective have progressively worsened”.
“Between being unjustifiably caught in the crossfire of trade tensions with China, the prospect of the dreaded Mercosur agreement being pushed forward, and the consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, farmers and agri-cooperatives seem to be the designated casualty,” it added.
“Farmers risk being squeezed between worsening export possibilities and an ever-worsened level playing field on their home markets.”
The farm organisations warned that any progress on trade would send “a negative message” unless the issue of different production standards and a level playing field is adequately addressed, especially on the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement.
“Otherwise, this may undermine the fragile trust that has been built after the spring protests,” the letter said.
“Under such challenging circumstances, it is difficult not to look with dismay at the discrepancies and incoherence we fear on trade,” it added.
The farm organisations told von der Leyen that elevating the importance of the agricultural sector in the EU’s trade strategy, and ensuring coherence between internal and trade policies, was a “major request” by participants in the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of Agriculture in the EU.
“Our sector is a key contributor to the EU’s positive trade balance and holds the potential to deliver benefits, not only for farmers and agri-cooperatives across the 27 member states but for EU economy and society at large,” the letter stated.
On the ongoing trade disputes with China, the Copa Cogeca members called on the commission to “do its utmost to lift this unjustifiable burden on producers”.
On the Mercosur trade agreement, the letter said: “It is equally important not to accept an agreement with Mercosur that disregards the key concerns of famers on the divergence of production standards and on the cumulative effects on sensitive sectors.
“European farmers and agri-cooperatives will never endorse an imbalanced and environmentally detrimental trade agreement… However, in our view, an agreement that jeopardises such a strategic sector as European agriculture does not make sense.
“An agreement without sufficient compulsory commitment from Mercosur countries on standards linked to animal welfare, the use of medicines in animal production, climate, chemical treatment, and other environmental standards may cause European farmers to take to the streets again,” the letter warned.