MAGAZINE - Copa-Cogeca

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April 2012 │ 15 In the International Year of Cooperatives 2012, Cogeca President Paulo Bruni highlighted the important role agri-cooperatives play in the market place. They help farmers get a better return from the market and make a key contribution to the EU 2020 Strategy for growth and employment, which is vital in the current economic climate. Mr Bruni insisted "Agri- Cooperatives are key to ensuring a competitive, innovative EU agri-food sector. They enable farmers to join forces to market their produce; add value to produce; help protect farmers against risks and help ensure product development through research and innovation, which is more important than ever given the current economic climate and increasing market volatility . In the fruit and vegetables sector, for example, where there are strong seasonal variations in supply, cooperatives play a vital role in balancing out the market". He continued: “With farmers currently getting little return from the market place, it is more important than ever to further concentrate supply via the development of cooperatives to help them get a better return. This is vital in view of the increasing world food demand which is expected to rise by 70% by 2050. That is why it is crucial to ensure that much more is done under the EU policies to strengthen cooperatives’ role”. Mr Bruni highlighted the major breakthrough Copa- Cogeca achieved in February in agreeing a position on the EU Commissions legislative proposals on the future Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). He is pleased to see the EU Commission has recognised the importance of agri-cooperatives and has come forward with plans to reinforce their role in its proposals . This is a move in the right direction. The Commission intends to work on each sector and see how producer organisations (POs), such as cooperatives, can be strengthened, focusing in particular on the fruit and vegetables, wine, olive oil and sheep sectors. But he called for a more precise definition of POs, their aims and tasks and a guarantee of In International Year of Cooperatives 2012, Cogeca President Paolo Bruni highlights crucial role cooperatives play in market place and outlines events for 2012 “legal certainty” under Community competition law so that they are able to consolidate. Copa-Cogeca has just agreed a position paper on this. We also need specific measures to eliminate unfair and abusive commercial practices in the food chain. With increasing market volatility, Mr Bruni called for strong safety nets and measures to manage the markets. In a bid to launch at European level the International Year of Cooperatives 2012, Cogeca, together with Cooperatives Europe and other European sector member organisations, held a major press conference in January , hosted by MEP Capoulas Santos. Cogeca will also carry out new initiatives in 2012 and step up efforts to promote agri-cooperatives. We are jointly with other stakeholders organising a number of targeted events, like the Cooperative Week in April, in Brussels. In a bid to stimulate innovation, Cogeca will present the European Award for Cooperative Innovation in June, Mr Bruni said. This award is intended to show how creative and innovative European agricultural cooperatives are and to encourage others to improve their competitiveness and positioning in the food chain and to create more innovative products.
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MAGAZINE - Copa-Cogeca

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