Food producers hit by fragile markets and excessive red tape, warns Copa

The fragile state of commodity markets and excessive red tape under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) are key challenges facing European farmers and food processors.

Leaders of Copa and Cogeca — the European umbrella bodies for both sectors — called for action to resolve the issues at a press briefing in Brussels, ahead of the Congress of European Farmers in Greece on this Wednesday and Thursday.

Copa president Martin Merrild said EU agriculture producers are being hit by low market prices and high input costs, as well as red tape.