Business lobby group EuroCommerce has called for 'positive and productive dialogue' on retail and its relationships with farmers in response to the Commission consultation on the modernisation of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
With this intention in mind, the lobby group organised an event hosted by MEP Julie Girling (UK, ECR), to begin discussions on the topic, with representatives from all the relevant stakeholders.
During the event, case studies of how retailers and agricultural suppliers were working together to mutual benefit were outlined.
“Farmers and retailers should be harmonious partners but all too often they seem to see each other as adversaries with opposing goals. I hope this event will start some dialogue and enable both groups to build trust," explained Julie Girling, MEP, introducing the event.
The chairman of the European Parliament's agricultural committee, Czesław Siekierski, suggested that strengthening dialogue between all stakeholders was key in supporting farmers."
"It is high time that we put aside divisive polemics and commit to a dialogue which can create trust and add value for everyone in the chain,” said the director general of EuroCommerce, Christian Verschueren.
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Gavin Ryan. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
