6 Amendments of Benoît LUTGEN related to 2020/2117(INI)
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses that, against the background of a sharp economic downturn, EU agri-food trade has remarkably remained in general broadly stable over the course of 2020, for both exports and imports, thanks in large part to the best efforts of farmers; highlights that the Union’s yearly agri-food trade surplus exceeded EUR 60 billion; notes however that these figures vary considerably from one Member State or sector to another; recalls in this context that agriculture and agri-food are key drivers for EU exports and economic recovery;
Amendment 33 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recalls, however, that some European agri-food markets are in a highly vulnerable situation after a significant loss in sales, while at the same time they are being confronted with a drop in prices combined, among other things, with a rise in animal feed prices, threatening their long-term sustainability; notes that the pandemic has had a significant impact on the beef, poultry, pig, wine, spirit and liqueur sectors, among others, given the drop in exports in terms of both volume and value because of COVID-19 measures affecting the hospitality sector; calls for further support to reactivate and diversify these exports and regain market share;
Amendment 42 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 3 – point 1 (new)
(1) Highlights the fact that low prices, combined with the increase in costs during and after the pandemic as well as other factors, have reduced, and will continue to reduce, the investment capacity of farms; stresses the need to support on-farm investments, in order to enable the agricultural sector to contribute to the post-pandemic recovery; emphasises the importance of the national recovery plans in this regard;
Amendment 49 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Points out that the exceptional measures to support the agri-food sector that were proposed at the beginning of the pandemic were insufficient; stresses, in this regard, the need for farm liquidity support; this additional support should ensure continuity and enable the agri- food sector to act on market and trade opportunities once these pick up again;
Amendment 54 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Notes that the European Union introduced a State aid temporary framework that has allowed Member States to provide their agricultural and agri-food sectors with additional support; stresses that this framework created very little fiscal space and led to very different crisis responses across the different Member States;
Amendment 68 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that any EU economic stimulus plans and export support measures need to consider agriculture in view of the importance and diversity of the sector; also stresses that the review and overhaul of EU trade policy, as well as the announced reform of the World Trade Organization, and the overhaul of the EU-Mercosur agreement, must be an opportunity to better defend the European agricultural model and farmers’ interests; reiterates firmly that agriculture and agri-food products entering the European market must fully comply with EU rules and standards;