The EC authorizes private storage for olive oil

The Commissioner of Agriculture and Rural Development, Phil Hogan, has announced, during the Council of Agriculture Ministers of the EU, the imminent opening of the measure of private storage of olive oil.

The acting Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, has celebrated the announcement made by the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Phil Hogan, to present a proposal to authorize the private storage of olive oil in Spain, during the Council of Agriculture Ministers of the European Union, in Luxembourg.

The commissioner has announced the imminent presentation of a proposed regulation for the opening of a measure to help private storage of olive oil, to help adjust the offer. It will consist of financing the storage of olive oil by oil mills and cooperatives, and thus facilitating price recovery.

This measure represents a recognition of the serious situation that the olive oil sector in Spain is going through, with prices below production costs, particularly in the traditional dryland olive grove.

The announcement takes place after the meeting between Planas and Hogan, last week in Brussels. At the meeting, the seriousness of the situation of the olive oil sector in Spain and the added concern about the possible consequences before the US decision were analyzed. to impose additional tariffs on the export of Spanish agri-food products, in the case of Airbus, including olive oil.

Planas stressed that this is a “very positive” story for the olive oil sector that has gone through a complicated campaign with prices well below the average. “We need a quick intervention to try to correct this situation”, without prejudice to all the structural actions that are being carried out by the Government of Spain, the minister added.

Planas has indicated that, even in the absence of knowing the specific parameters of the measure, it will be implemented immediately, once it is examined in the Management Committee of the European Union (EU) and formally approved by the EC.

The last time that private storage was applied in Spain was in 2012, when the price of olive oil at origin was for several weeks below the reference price. Although this circumstance has not occurred on this occasion, the low price situation coupled with a record campaign link and the uncertainty that may arise from export tariffs to the US justify the adoption of this measure by the Commission.

TARIFFS CASE AIRBUS

The minister participates in Luxembourg in the meeting of the Council of Ministers of Agriculture and Fisheries of the European Union, in which the status of the regulations of the future CAP has been discussed, as well as the imposition of additional tariffs on United States to agrifood products as a result of the Airbus panel, among other matters.

Regarding the Airbus case, Planas has insisted, in statements to the media, that until the 18th, contacts between the EC and the US Administration must continue to avoid such additional burdensome tariffs for the agri-food sector and that the Government of Spain considered unacceptable.

However, if they are finally applied, “we must be prepared,” according to the minister, who has asked the Commission for support and correction measures, in terms of promotion, of markets for the products concerned, which has been addressed in the Council at the request of Spain, France and Italy.

SPAIN REQUESTS TO MAINTAIN THE CAP’S BUDGET

In the debates for the CAP reform, Spain considers the maintenance of the budget at the same level as in the current financial period a priority. “We are approaching the landing on the reality of the budget,” said Planas, referring to the work that will be carried out this week, in which the EU Heads of State and Government will hold a European Council, to discuss the budget of the EU for the period 2021-2027.

Spain, France and fifteen other countries have supported a statement highlighting the importance of such a policy in addressing the climate and environmental challenge as well as in maintaining rural areas.

He has demanded an agreement “good and that occurs soon” because there is a great clear and real social demand to transform the way of producing food, in a context of increasingly urgent climate and environmental urgency, so “we need to keep the budget ”, Stressed Planas.

In addition, the minister has indicated that it is necessary to send a message of tranquility to farmers, ranchers and foresters that they will have sufficient resources to be able to face this change demanded by society.