19 December 2008

“We call upon the Czech Presidency to continue the debate on the objectives and principles of the future Common Agricultural Policy after 2013 and to retain a firm stance in the WTO negotiations,” said Pekka PESONEN, Secretary General of Copa-Cogeca.

European farmers and their cooperatives made a contribution towards launching the debate on the objectives and principles of the future CAP at their congress on 30 September. They recalled that in these times of economic, financial and food crises, European agriculture remains a strategic sector for the European Union’s development.

European farmers and their cooperatives are prepared to face the future challenges concerning the increased worldwide demand for foodstuffs, price instability, growing environmental challenges and new health risks.
The European Union needs to have a Common Agricultural Policy which ranks the guarantee of food security and stability of supply among its main objectives.
“The work of the Czech Presidency is expected to begin by taking up the conclusions of the French Presidency of the Council on the future CAP which were supported by almost all agriculture ministers,” concluded Pekka PESONEN.

For further information, please contact:
Arnaud Petit
Senior Policy Advisor
Tel.: +32 2 287 27 03
arnaud.petit@copa-cogeca.eu
Pekka PESONEN
Secretary General
Tel.:+32 2 287 27 22
pekka.pesonen@copa-cogeca