Romania and France require the European Commission to postpone application of Mercosur Agreement

  Romania and France require the European Commission the postponement of the Mercosur Agreement application taking into consideration the impact on European farmers, announced on Monday the relevant ministry.   In this sense, the two countries agreed to sign this joined statement, which is going to be sent to the European Commission, the initiative being supported by other member states as well – Italy, Austria, Poland and Hungary – which expressed their intention to join the action.   According to a press release of the ministry of agriculture and rural development (MADR), the Romanian minister of agriculture, Florin Barbu had on Monday an official meeting with Annie Genevard, the French minister of Agriculture and Food Security, within the AGRIFISH Council to discuss two issues of huge importance for the future of European agriculture: the agreement for free exchange EU –Mercosur and the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (PAC).   The two officials mentioned the necessity of consolidated cooperation between Romania and France in the context of joined challenges the farmers of the two member states face.   ‘Within the discussions, minister Florin Barbu proposed a postponement of at least two years of application for the MERCOSUR Agreement to allow the member states to have a detailed analysis of effects on competitiveness of the European agriculture and on food safety. In her turn, the French minister, Annie Genevard proposed the initiation of a common statement in opposition to the present format of the agreement which should reflect the legitimate preoccupations of the European farmers’ the MADR press release says.   As regards the future of PAC, Florin Barbu and Annie Genevard agreed on keeping a agricultural policy different from the other European funds, structured on two clear pillars and benefitting from an adequate budget, capable to meet the real needs of the European farmers.   At the same time, the two officials pleaded for the simplification of the implementation rules, so that the farmers could access European funds more easily, without excessive bureaucracy and the national administrations have a higher margin of flexibility in applying the policies.   'Romania and France reaffirm their commitment to a sustained and constructive dialogue in support of a high-performing, resilient and fair European agriculture for all farmers in the European Union', MADR representatives said.