The EU fruit and vegetables sector : overview and post 2013 CAP pespective

This study provides an overview of recent economic and policy developments of the EU F&V sector, considering ongoing changes in supply chains and market dynamics and current profiles of domestic and trade policies. Findings suggest that current difficulties for EU producers, particularly for small farming, arises mainly from long-term changes at different levels of the global F&V sector: consumers, retail and multinational agribusiness. The preliminary assessment of the 2007 reformed CMO, derived from both National Strategies and a survey targeting POs of Italy, Spain and France, validate the cornerstones of the current EU policy schemes for the F&V sector. However plausible improvements are envisaged for support and trade protection measures in the framework of the CAP after 2013. Main proposals focus a strengthened role of POs, selecting and increasing effectiveness of crises and risk management measures, rebalancing bargaining power of POs in the supply chain, reducing fluctuations in producers' income, refining trade policy solutions in a context of increased trading openness and further integration with Mediterranean Partner Countries.