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On 26/03/2020, leaders of EU Member States discussed the effects of the current coronavirus crisis during a videoconference, while prime ministers and presidents stressed the need to ensure the functioning of the European Union's Single Market. Any existing barriers should be urgently addressed, especially in the context of the movement of cross-border and seasonal workers and goods.
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The largest European agricultural organization, Copa and Cogeca, called for a Council of Ministers of Agriculture video conference on 25/03/2020 to introduce all available measures that can ensure and support the functioning of the Single Market and the value chain in the EU. According to Copa and Cogeca, these measures should be financed from sources outside the budget of the CAP. Copa and Cogeca highlighted the dramatic slump in the flower market, highlighted the fall in fruit and vegetable prices, and mentioned a change in consumer preferences, which now focus on buying minced meat and processed foods rather than high-quality meat. In order to strengthen its support for the sugar sector, Copa and Cogeca supported the introduction of all available emergency measures, including private storage and import protection, as the sugar market has not yet recovered from the effects of abandoning sugar quotas. Furthermore, Copa and Cogeca supported a two-year transition period for the CAP.
The organization representing young farmers (CEJA), on the other hand, called for the activation of the crisis agricultural reserve (Copa and Cogeca are applying for funding from sources outside the CAP). Moreover, according to CEJA, the amount of the reserve should be increased for 2020.
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Europe's largest agricultural organization, Copa-Cogeca, has pointed out that restrictions on the movement of workers across borders can have a devastating impact on agriculture, with particular impact on the fruit, vegetables and wine sectors. Moreover, the negative effects might not only be relevant for this year, but could also be felt in the coming season. Among the countries most vulnerable to the lack of seasonal workers are Italy and Spain, which have a strong fruit and vegetable sector. About 25% of Italian food production depends on 370,000 workers from other countries, mostly from Romania. France has asked for help from its citizens, some 200,000 jobs normally performed by foreign workers could now be represented by those who temporarily lost their jobs in France due to coronavirus. More than 100,000 French responded to the French Ministry's request within 48 hours (more information here). The UK agricultural sector also depends on seasonal workers to cover around 100,000 jobs.
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On 23/03/2020, Norbert Lins, the chair of the Parliament’s agriculture committee, sent a letter to EU agriculture commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski and Croatia’s farm minister Marija Vučković requesting the establishment of a contingency plan for the common agricultural policy. Lins welcomed the European Commission's decision to postpone the deadline for applications for direct payments until mid-June 2020, but stressed that more measures would have to be put in place to ensure the functioning of the agricultural sector during the crisis caused by the spread of coronavirus. The new contingency plan should cover payment deadlines, on-farm inspections as well as aid applications. Member States should be allowed maximum flexibility, and all CAP processes should be simplified. Until 31/12/2020, according to Lins, general exemptions from the implementation of the CAP measures should be allowed to protect European agriculture and rural areas. The Commission has also been called on to provide so-called green lanes to allow the smooth transport of food at the borders. Furthermore, according to Lins, the Commission should ensure free movement of people in the context of the coming season, the free movement of workers being crucial for agriculture - especially in the fruit and vegetables sector. In addition, the Commission should provide specific support for food storage.
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The European Parliament sought to reach an agreement on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy until the summer break, the vote in the European Parliament plenary was due to take place in June or July 2020. But German MEP Peter Jahr (EPP), the rapporteur for the CAP Strategic Plans - a major part of the legislative package, expressed his doubts over Coronavirus outbreak in the EU. According to Jahr, Parliament will continue to try to meet the deadline, but many negotiations have had to be cancelled and replaced by videoconferences. According to him, the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development is ready to make progress in the discussions on the CAP, but many questions are still awaiting the EP's Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety. Jahr also stressed that the current priority is to reach agreement on the CAP's Multiannual Financial Framework, in addition to addressing the coronavirus crisis.
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