21 Amendments of Luke Ming FLANAGAN related to 2015/2065(INI)
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recognises that CAP reform introduced measures aimed at addressing the bargaining power gap between farmers and other stakeholders in the food supply chain, urges the commission to prioritize these initiatives;
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recognises that CAP reform introduced measuresthe measures introduced with the CAP reform, aimed at addressing the bargaining power gap between farmers and other stakeholders in the food supply chain have been a total failure; doubts, however, that the true objective of the measures was to strengthen the bargaining power of the production sector;
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Notes that Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament provides for the establishment of Producer Organisations (POs) and is backed by financial incentives under the second pillar. The legal framework of these extends the possibility for collective bargaining (in some sectors) and delivery contracts (for all sectors) to Producer Organisations, their Associations and Inter Branch Organisations and also introduces temporary exemption from certain competition rules (e.g. market withdrawal or storage by private operators) in periods of severe market imbalance, subject to safeguards. Urges the Commission to strongly promote this approach to increase the bargaining power of the primary producer;
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Believes that short Food Supply Chains and Local Food Systems should be encouraged as such types of food chains has specific social impacts, economic impacts at both regional and farm level as well as environmental impacts translating themselves into clear benefits for producers and consumers;
Amendment 39 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Points to the limitations of the Supply Chain Initiative (SCI), and specifically the absence of farmers’ organisations owing to lack of trust, restriction of anonymous complaints, absence of meaningful mechanisms to adequately combat well- documented unfair trading practices (UTPs), and, in particular, the lack of enforcement measures andgiven its lack of statutory power its inability to apply any meaningful sanctions;
Amendment 48 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Points out reducing prices for the primary producer are not reflected in consumer prices which highlight the imbalance in the food supply chain and the need for regulation;
Amendment 63 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Doubts whetherBelieves that voluntary initiatives are inadequate for addressing UTPs and the acknowledged ‘fear factor’ in the supply chain arising from the imbalance of power between farmers and retailers and must be complemented by regulatory action combined with a fundamental rebalancing of the market to give parity to the primary producer;
Amendment 70 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Doubts whetherBelieves voluntary initiatives are to be inadequate for addressing UTPs and the acknowledged ‘fear factor’ in the supply chain arising from the imbalance of power between farmers and retailers;
Amendment 80 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Notes that the Supply Chain Initiative (SCI), which is purely voluntary in nature, does not address the real problem arising from the highly concentrated structure of large-scale distribution and the supply-side rigidity that applies to most agricultural producers;
Amendment 81 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Highlights that as supermarkets have acquired increasing reputation and market power, they have developed their own brands, this has given the retailer a new role – in addition to their traditional role as purchaser, they have become a direct competitor This widens the scope for buyer power abuse in that it can adversely affect choice for consumers and could also affect innovation;
Amendment 88 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Questions the Commission’s unwavering support for the SCI, given its limited success and also given the reluctance of farmers to participate; regrets the pre- emptive conclusion that regulatory action at EU level is not foreseen;
Amendment 94 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Questions the Commission’s unwavering support for the SCI, given the reluctance of farmers to participate; regrets the pre- emptive conclusion thatat it foresees no regulatory action at EU level is not foreseen;
Amendment 116 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes that several Member States have initiated actions in national law to address the concerns of primary producers regarding the negative impact of UTPs; asks the Commission to assess these national efforts with a view to selecting best practices for application at EU level; notes in particular the Groceries Code Adjudicator in the UK as a potential model for adaptation at EU level;
Amendment 125 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes that several Member States have initiated actions in national law to address the concerns of primary producers regarding the negative impact of UTPs; asks the Commission to assess these national effortefforts undertaken by states with a view to selecting best practices for application at EU level; notes in particular the Groceries Code Adjudicator in the UK as a potential model for adaptation at EU level;
Amendment 131 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls on the Commission to examine the success of the micro-brewery sector in Ireland where tax incentives were given to small operations which has allowed them to compete with multinationals, which mitigates against runaway consolidation in the processing sector. Asks the commission to assess if this template could be applied to other sectors across the EU;
Amendment 140 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Calls on the Commission to examine Australian competition law which inserts powers to allow for collective bargaining where there is a serious imbalance in market power between two or more levels of the supply chain that is likely to have an adverse effect on the public interest;
Amendment 141 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5c. Points out that UTP can occur at all stages of the supply chain. Urges the commission therefore, to examine both the processing and the retail sectors to ensure that there is adequate genuine competition in these areas. Asks the Commission to examine competition law with a view (as in other sectors) to limit the market share that a retailer can control;
Amendment 150 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Believes that framework legislation at EU level is essentialnecessary to tackle UTPs and to address their negative consequences for farmers; urges the Commission to consider this an essential part of a long term solution when assessing the SCI;
Amendment 171 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Argues that such legislation would complement the SCI and protect stakeholders who are fully engaged with the Initiativethe production side, which is considered the most vulnerable bearing in mind the supply-side rigidity arising from long production cycles and the perishable nature of products, while ensuring that UTPs are eradicated from the food supply chain and providing primary producers with the necessary legal certainty to address their concerns.
Amendment 173 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Argues that such legislation wouldis needed to complement the SCI and protect stakeholders who are fully engaged with the Initiative, whilelong with a number of other measures to increase the bargaining power of the farmers to ensuringe that UTPs are eradicated from the food supply chain and to providinge primary producers with the necessary legal certainty to address their concerns.;
Amendment 180 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Urges the commission to encourage a demand led food production system which will contribute to price stability and sustainability for producers in the medium to long term;