Following the overall insatisfaction on the draft delegated act on mountain products currently being prepared by European Commission, Euromontana, Bavaria and South Tyrol have joined forces. Initially promoting different positions, they joined to prepare a common position and promote it towards Commissioner Ciolos. A strategic meeting was organised on July 10th in the Bavarian Delegation in Brussels to work on wording which would take into account realities of the different parties, while securing added value for mountain supply chains. An alternative wording proposal has been prepared and an agreement concluded. This position was sent to Commissioner Ciolos by letter dated 18th of July 2013, signed by the president of Euromontana, by Mr Minister Helmut Brunner, by Governor Luis Durnwalder and by the European Member of Parliament Mr Herbert Dorfmann. The cabinet of Commissioner Ciolos committed to study our proposals very seriously. However, the decision lies within the sole responsibility of the European Commission. They must consult Member States. The success of our initiative will depend on our capacity to promote our position towards Member States as well.
In this position, we ask, as opposed to current Commission’s proposal:
- More flexibility on feedstuffs and concentration on fodder with regards to requirements: 75% of fodder should originate from the mountain area, no obligation of mountain origin for concentrates based on cereals, oil and protein crops.
- An opening for pig and poultry supply chains: authorization to use the term “mountain product” with the condition to adhere to a quality scheme guaranteeing product specificity through specific production or processing method typical of mountain areas.
- No systematic derogation for processing of products outside mountain areas.
- Possibilities to derogate on a case by case approach for processing of dairy products, with conditions of anteriority, proximity and absence of harmful impact to the mountain economy for milk and cream, and under condition of strict proximity or altitude for cheese processing.
- Possibilities of derogations with 30km for animal slaughtering.
The president of Euromontana and other signatories requested an appointment to the Commissioner to promote this position. Due to summer break, this appointment, if accepted, shall not happen before the end of August or the beginning of September.
AREPO signed a support letter to our position, arguing for even more derogations on animal feedstuffs.
We invite members to relay this position to their government to ensure support at European Commission level.
29 July 2013
