On 4 February in Lyon, France, the French presidency of EUSALP (macro strategy for the Alps) was launched. A round table discussion was held on the topic of “What short circuits for agricultural and forestry products from the Alpine region?”.
In order to develop short circuits for agricultural and forestry products, one of the options is to encourage quality products that are recognised as such, either under quality labels such as PDOs or PGIs, but also by using the optional quality label for mountain products.
It was also an opportunity for Marie Clotteau, Director of Euromontana, to remind of what the optional quality label for mountain products consists of, how it is implemented in different Member States and how the CAP can help producers to promote both this optional quality label and more generally support production in mountain areas.
Nevertheless, while some legislative provisions are encouraging for mountain agriculture, the Director of Euromontana reiterated the need for mountain stakeholders to express to their national authorities the need to take into consideration mountain areas’ specificities in their next strategic plans for the CAP. The new CAP will have a new delivery model and will be based on a national strategic plan. It is therefore crucial that mountain people make their interests visible before these plans are finalised.
For more information, on the launch of the French presidency of EUSALP, please visit the website of the French National Agency for Territorial Cohesion.
11 February 2020
