Crisis in agricultural markets: package of support measures for farmers

Recognising the depth and duration of the global crisis in agricultural markets and its impact in Europe, particularly in the dairy, pig meat and fruit and vegetables sectors, the Council and the Commission agreed on the need for a further response from the Union to include a comprehensive set of specific measures.

Specifically for pigmeat sector, Council urge the European Commission to:

• activate all appropriate measures available, including the exceptional measures available under Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council ("the CMO Regulation"), to alleviate the current market situation;
• keep the situation of the pig meat sector under close review and consider the provision of further support for the pig meat sector in the form of a new scheme for Private Storage Aid (PSA), to be introduced in 2016 at the time most beneficial for the sector;
• use the additional amount destined for market disturbances under promotion rules to increase the dedicated promotion funding for dairy and pig meat;
• continue the diplomatic initiative to identify new third country markets for EU agricultural exports; 
• prioritise engagement with the European Investment Bank (EIB), with a view to developing appropriate financial instruments to assist farmers and processors to invest in their enterprises to improve the competitiveness of those enterprises or make any necessary structural adjustments;
• work with the EIB and the Member States to examine the feasibility of an EU export credit tool , that is complementary to Member States' schemes;
• intensify efforts to regularise trade between the EU and Russia, in close cooperation with the Presidency of the Council, particularly to facilitate a resumption of trade in those products covered by the SPS ban;
• ensure that the interests of European producers are adequately protected in forthcoming FTA negotiations, including TTIP and Mercosur, particularly for sensitive EU sectors;

In addition they calll on the Commission to

• consider the possibility for Member States to grant temporary support of up to € 15 000 per farmer per year in line with para. 30 of the Guidelines on State Aid, including the possibility for the Member States to give temporary liquidity support ;
• review the de minimis ceiling, with a view to raising it from €15,000 to € 30 000;
• consider greater flexibility in the conditions applying to existing schemes for PSA with a view to increasing their attractiveness to operators;
• following the completion of the work of the Agricultural Markets Task Force, to consider proposals for appropriate tools to deal with risk management, futures markets, fixed-price contracts etc..