The Parliament’s negotiating team has now received a green light to start discussing the final wording of the new directive that should better protect farmers against buyers’ unfair trading practices with the Council’s Austrian Presidency.
The first negotiations are to take place this Thursday afternoon.
Now we need to start trialogue talks immediately and to finalise them by Christmas
“It was now or never and I am happy that in spite of all the pressure in recent weeks from the supermarkets lobby to kill this legislation, the Parliament has given us a green light to finalise the work on new rules that our farmers so desperately need,” rapporteur and the Parliament’s chief negotiator Paolo De Castro said.
“Now we need to start trialogue talks immediately and to finalise them by Christmas. This is our only window of opportunity to be able to make it before the EP elections.”
The negotiating mandate was approved by 428 votes in favour to 170 against and 18 abstentions.
Once the deal on the final wording of the new EU law is reached, it will have to be confirmed by both the Parliament and the Council.
Prior to the vote MEPs and French farm union representatives held a demonstration, urging the parliament to pass the vote. French farm union representative Herve Lapie, said that for every €100 consumers pay for food, just €6.20 goes to the farmer.
Reaction
IFA president Joe Healy said that the vote is “a significant recognition of the fight by farmers to have this issue addressed”.
Read more
Giving power to the farmer
Split views on unfair trading practices legislation
The Parliament’s negotiating team has now received a green light to start discussing the final wording of the new directive that should better protect farmers against buyers’ unfair trading practices with the Council’s Austrian Presidency.
The first negotiations are to take place this Thursday afternoon.
Now we need to start trialogue talks immediately and to finalise them by Christmas
“It was now or never and I am happy that in spite of all the pressure in recent weeks from the supermarkets lobby to kill this legislation, the Parliament has given us a green light to finalise the work on new rules that our farmers so desperately need,” rapporteur and the Parliament’s chief negotiator Paolo De Castro said.
“Now we need to start trialogue talks immediately and to finalise them by Christmas. This is our only window of opportunity to be able to make it before the EP elections.”
The negotiating mandate was approved by 428 votes in favour to 170 against and 18 abstentions.
Once the deal on the final wording of the new EU law is reached, it will have to be confirmed by both the Parliament and the Council.
Prior to the vote MEPs and French farm union representatives held a demonstration, urging the parliament to pass the vote. French farm union representative Herve Lapie, said that for every €100 consumers pay for food, just €6.20 goes to the farmer.
Reaction
IFA president Joe Healy said that the vote is “a significant recognition of the fight by farmers to have this issue addressed”.
Read more
Giving power to the farmer
Split views on unfair trading practices legislation
SHARING OPTIONS