Activities of Ricardo SERRÃO SANTOS related to 2014/2146(INI)
Plenary speeches (2)
Review of the implementation of the Dairy package (A8-0187/2015 - James Nicholson) PT
Review of the implementation of the Dairy package (debate) PT
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on prospects for the EU dairy sector – review of the implementation of the Dairy Package PDF (226 KB) DOC (149 KB)
Amendments (40)
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)
Citation 8 a (new)
- having regard to the Draft Opinion of 5 March 2015 of the Committee of the Regions on ‘the future of the dairy industry’,
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. Whereas the input products used in dairy production present a high degree of volatility.
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas the Milk Package, which was intended to bolster the structuring of the supply chains in view of the approaching deadline for quotas, has enabled a limited number of Member States to apply this contractual policy within their own territory;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas the Milk Package obliged Member States to recognise producer organisations and their associations;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas a huge variety of dairy farms are present all over the EU in terms of size, geographical location, and production and distribution methods;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas a large number of dairy farms are located in disadvantaged, outermost, remote or mountainous areas, where the costs of production, collection and marketing milk and dairy products outside their production area are much higher than in other areas;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
Ha. Whereas one of the main objectives of the CAP is balanced territorial development, in economic, social and environmental terms; this presupposes that agriculture will continue to be productive and sustainable in disadvantaged, outermost, remote or mountainous areas;
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas European dairy productsion significantly contributes to the success of the EU’s agri-food industry and the prosperity of rural economies, the prosperity of rural economies, the preservation of a diverse European agri-food heritage, and plays a key role in Europe’s territorial and environmental configuration as well as in the social sphere, with a multiplier effect on other business sectors like tourism;
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)
Recital J a (new)
Ja. whereas the end of the quota policy will result in a geographical concentration of farming that will be detrimental to the balance of arable/ livestock activities on numerous farms and to the agronomic quality of the soil primarily due above all to the drop in organic matter;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that a sustainable and competitive dairy sector with responsive toolsviable, competitive and sustainable dairy sector across the EU, with responsive tools that allow fair remuneration to producers, is the goal of the Milk Package; stresses that the issues identified in the Milk Package remain a barrier to a competitive and equitable milk market and a fair income for farmers;
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recalls that the dairy crisis of 2009 occurred under the quota structure and highlighted the malfunction of the dairy products value chain resulting in downward pressure on the price paid to producers; reminds the Commission that the delay in responding to the crisis forced many dairy farmers out of business, and expresses concern regarding the Commission’s capacity to respond rapidly and effectively to market crises;
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Reminds that dairy production in disadvantaged, outermost, remote or mountainous areas requires a specific approach in terms of the Investment Plan and financial subsidies to preserve or rebuild the conditions necessary for farming activities, and for the processing and marketing of this production;
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Urges the Commission to closely monitor the evolution of dairy production in disadvantaged, outermost, remote or mountainous areas and to assess the economic impact of the end of quotas on dairy farms;
Amendment 155 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Notes that the high degree of price volatility, will be a continuhich is incompatible with major investments in livestock and the installation of new producers, is the maing challenge facing the dairy sector and; as a result, urges the Commission to consider measures to mitigate the risks arising from increased exposure to the world market;
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Underlines that the suppression of the milk quotas system and the greater openness of markets will led to stronger competition between the production areas at a European level, which might endanger the objective of territorial equilibrium across the EU;
Amendment 164 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
Amendment 172 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Asks the Commission to define an adequate legal framework to allow production to be organised through supply management in the dairy sector;
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Considers it necessary to foresee calling into question a quotas system to control supply in the dairy sector due to the unavailability of a mechanism with an equivalent effect on the market;
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Calls on the Commission to establish new financing opportunities for Member States, including with the aid of the European Investment Bank (EIB), by means of which the dairy industry will be reformed; considers financial support (such as guarantee funds, revolving funds or investment capital) essential, along with resources provided by the EIB, in order to intervene at the level of structural and European investment funds, in particular in harmony with rural development; this would enable a multiplier effect to be achieved in terms of growth and income, as well as facilitating access to credit for dairy farmers;
Amendment 190 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Calls on the European Commission to present one or more regulatory tools to prevent and effectively manage new crises in the dairy sector, notably by facilitating the organisation of dairy production in terms of supply management. Urges the European Commission to engage in formal talks with all the stakeholders in the sector in order to achieve this;
Amendment 197 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Considers that stronger competition should be used as a means of ensuring territorial balance and more balanced remuneration for producers within the dairy value chain;
Amendment 213 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Stresses that strePoints out that with the abolition of quotas, the future of most producers will depend to an even greater extent on the strategy followed by the business buying thening contractual relations represents a concrete method of ensuringir milk and to whom they are contracted ; that it is important to strengthen these contractual relations since they must allow more added value to be created and must ensure a more equitable distribution alongthroughout the supply chain and; these contractual relations also reinforces the responsibility of stakeholders to take account of the market situation and respond accordinglyin managing the markets within the sector;
Amendment 218 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Stresses that strengthening and improving contractual relations, by expanding to include the entire sector and in particular large-scale distribution, represents a concrete method of ensuring equitable distribution along the supply chain and reinforces the responsibility of stakeholders to take account of the market situation and respond accordingly;
Amendment 235 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Notes that the sector could further explore the potential offered by longer- term integrated supply chain contracts, forwards contracts, fixed margin contracts, and the opportunity toby generalising the contractual policy and extending it to relations with distributors, which would authorise the ‘lock in’ of a milk price for a set period of time; believes that for this the option to avail of new instruments in contractual relations should be available;
Amendment 254 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Highlights the important role of producer organisations (POs) and their associations in increasing the bargaining power and influence producers have in the supply chain, and regrets the fact that there have only been limited moves towards setting up POs; highlights that POs can benefit from financial support under Pillar II and urges further incentivisation to create and join POs as a tool to address imbalances in the supply chain;
Amendment 257 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Is of the opinion that more powers and more resources must be granted to producer organisations (POs) in order that they can play a clear economic role in price and supply management; highlights that POs can benefit from financial support under Pillar II and urges further incentivisation to create and join POs as a tool to address imbalances in the supply chain;
Amendment 263 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Requests that assistance for the establishment and activities of producer organisations (POs) is tailored to the realities of disadvantaged, outlying, isolated and mountainous areas;
Amendment 267 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Considers it important to favour producer group associations by production area rather than producer groups by company, in order to better balance the negotiating power of producers, very often unable to influence the content of their contracts concluded with the company to which they sell their milk;
Amendment 287 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Emphasises the importance of the Milk Market Observatory (MMO) in disseminating and analysing market data and calls for an increased role for the MMO; this observatory that is to become a true market management tool needs to be improved; the definitions of the data collected need to be harmonised, in particular those relating to the final price paid to the producer, and to be complemented with prospective data on the production, consumption, stock situation, prices and exchanges of imported or exported milk at European level; it is equally useful to integrate the monitoring of production costs and of international markets in order to identify any trends and seize export opportunities; recommends that the Commission take the necessary action to ensure that the MMO is in a position to communicate early warnings to the Commission, Member States, regions and relevant stakeholders, when the market situation so requires; considers that the information provided by the MMO should involve updateis con market and price trends, and should bestantly updated and easily accessible and user-friendly for all stakeholders;
Amendment 292 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Requests the data contained in the MMO also focuses on the interactions that exist between beef and milk production; the beef market is heavily impacted by the milk sector which supplies over 70 % of the beef market, due to cull programmes and the weakening of the dairy herd.
Amendment 301 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Notes that, under Pillar I, optional coupled support is a tool available to assist the dairy sector, while under Pillar II producers can avail of advisory services to support business decisions and sound financial management – if necessary, Member States can use insurance measures such as the Income Stabilisation Tool and can also determine the grouping and targeting within the sector of rural development measures with a higher level of aid; calls on the sector to investigate the development of further insurance tools when the market is strong;
Amendment 307 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Requests that the Commission anticipates for 2017 the report on the development of the situation of the milk and dairy products markets, assessing in particular the effects of the ‘milk package’ on producers and on milk production in the disadvantaged, outlying, isolated and mountainous areas, in line with the general objective to preserve production in these areas, and encompassing potential incentives seeking to encourage the farmers to conclude joint production agreements; this report must be accompanied by any relevant proposals within the scope of these objectives;
Amendment 310 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17b. Believes that it is necessary to allocate additional resources to the POSEI programme so as to assist milk producers in adapting to the effects resulting from the deregulation of the markets and enabling them to maintain a viable and competitive business relative to the rest of the European area;
Amendment 320 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Points out that global dairy demand is predicted to grow by 2 % per annum, offering opportunities for products of EU origin; notes, however, that the market is increasingly dominated by dried dairy productsif this presents opportunities it is important not to neglect the European market; a stable, solvent market, offering quality and reputable products, which represent more than 90 % of the dairy product market in Europe;
Amendment 347 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Underlines that bilateral trade negotiations may represent strategic opportunities for the EU dairy sector, subject to the preservation and enhancement of European quality and safety standards in production and in the supply of products to consumers;
Amendment 371 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Underlines that it is indispensable to keep dairy farms on a human scale and managed by farmers in all of the territories of the Union, especially in disadvantaged areas, mountainous areas, the outermost areas and intermediate areas; that under these conditions it is necessary to carry out ambitious policies to support these regions with the assistance of policies for rural development, promotion and the fine- tuning of CAP aid as permitted by the last reform; requests the Commission to examine the possibility in the context of its handicap support policy as contained in Pillar II, to consider providing support for the collection of milk in areas of very low concentration where the higher costs of collection have an adverse effect on the industry.
Amendment 403 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Underlines that the European Union must contribute to publicising the health benefits of dairy products; in this regard, the distribution of milk in schools would enable calcium targets to be reached, calcium being an essential nutrient inter alia for the formation of bones, could have a genuine impact at a regional level by instigating the targeted supply of local authorities with local produce using short supply circuits, and would enable children to be reconnected with farming;
Amendment 447 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Underlines the importance of a more responsive and realistic crisis instrument, and recommends that the Commission engage with the sector on the possibility of using risk management instruments such as the futures markets to take advantage of the volatility in the sector to increase its competitivenes, in conjunction with the sector, to investigate exceptional measures that could be taken in the event of market disturbances on the basis of Article 219 of Regulation 1308/2013 on the Single CMO; requests the Commission in this regard to examine the possibility of intervening in product volumes during severe crises by imposing temporary production ceilings;
Amendment 458 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26a. Requests that the Commission, in cooperation with the Member States and participants from the dairy sector, develop effective and appropriate instruments to safeguard against sudden significant falls in the price of milk;
Amendment 474 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Considers that the guiding principle of the law of competition based on offering the best price to the consumer may have an adverse effect on the remuneration of added value further up the agricultural value chain, specifically on the price paid to producers; likewise, that the application of national laws on unfair commercial practices has prevented neither the dysfunctionality of the dairy sector nor downward pressure on the prices paid to producers; calls on the various departments of the European Commission concerned - Agriculture, Internal Market and Competition – to examine the possibility of developing a sector-specific approach, taking account of the specific features of agricultural business relative to other productive sectors;