Fischer-Boel geeft toelichting bij steunmaatregelen voor pluimveemarkten (en)

Agriculture and Fisheries Council

Brussels, 20 March 2006

Key elements of Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel's intervention on avian flu at the Agriculture Council, 20 March 2006

Since the last Council meeting, we have had further cases of the highly pathogenic Avian Influenza in several Member States - mainly in wild birds. This has reinforced the negative impact on poultry meat in many Member States. The impact on prices has varied, but in general they are under pressure or have fallen significantly.

Since then, the Commission has made use of the only instrument at its disposal by increasing export refunds for poultry. However, the effects of this were limited due to the fact that several third countries have introduced import restrictions on our exports.

It is, however, quite clear that the extent of the crisis cannot be handled effectively within the existing legal framework of the Common Market Organisation for Poultry.

This unprecedented crisis is therefore not a normal market management difficulty, but is directly linked to consumers reacting to the news related to Avian Influenza. The drop in consumption and prices therefore needs to be tackled by providing the Commission with the necessary legal framework to intervene.

At this stage it is not possible to identify which concrete measures could be adopted. It is an examination that should be done on a case by case basis and taking into account the measures already taken by Members States.

I think therefore that the first step in the process must be to fill in the missing link. The Commission should be empowered to provide for concrete measures to be taken both now and in future similar cases in the poultry sector.

What seems to me the most appropriate and quickest solution is to extend the scope of the existing provision in the CMO which provides for special market support measures as a result of veterinary restrictions.

This would entail a sharing of the financial burden between Member States and the Community budget and would only be introduced upon the request of a Member State.

Without being too specific at this stage, such measures should attack the problem upstream and reduce production potential in order to avoid a continuous problem downstream. Other measures might also be considered. Budgetary considerations are also to be taken into account.

From a procedural point of view, I therefore intend to present to my colleagues in the Commission a proposal which can then be discussed in the Council as soon as possible. Obviously, we need the opinion of the European Parliament and I shall take the initiative to invite the Parliament to deliver an opinion as quickly as possible in order to tackle the present crisis in a speedy manner.

In the meantime a number of Member States have announced or taken initiatives with regard to state aid. The Commission will examine, in the light of the crisis, any proposal as quickly as possible, taking account both of the need for rapid help and the need to avoid distortions of competition.

Mr Chairman, the Commission is acutely aware of the responsibility that we have in addressing the crisis in the poultry sector, which is causing serious concern and hardship for the industry. A combination of the existing instruments under the CMO, asking the Council to give the Commission new powers and the recourse to state aid should allow us to address the crisis more effectively head-on.

End.