Carmen Crespo Champions European Farmers’ Rights with “Mirror Clauses” Initiative
SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE 19 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The MEP from the Popular Group, Carmen Crespo, who is also the chair of the Fisheries Commission and a member of the Agriculture Commission, insisted this Tuesday on the necessity of “respect” for European producers, advocating for the introduction of “mirror clauses”.
During her video conference at the ‘Conecta Europa Conference’ held by the Parliament of the Canary Islands, she acknowledged the “mistake” of instituting measures for the community primary sector without including it in the process, despite its evident eagerness to participate, albeit “with time and resources”.
Consequently, she has called for making the primary sector “competitive”, noting the burden of “high production costs” and the “challenges” in ensuring generational transition, particularly in a context of “unfair competition” from third nations, especially given the considerable investments made in updating and modernising the sector.
She stated that the establishment of ‘mirror clauses’, supported by the new EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, Christophe Hansen, is more reliant on the Trade area but maintains that “working for agriculture is also working for food” and that a “holistic perspective” is essential.
Crespo emphasised that the health crisis highlighted the need to “advance” in food sovereignty and ensure “nutritious food” for Europeans. She also championed the establishment of a new circular economy strategy aimed at transforming waste into an “opportunity” to assist in the battle against climate change.
In this particular domain, she urged for “listening” to scientists without any biases as the “ideology surrounding water management” has “seriously” hindered efforts against drought, expressing her hope that the disasters experienced in La Palma or Valencia will serve as lessons for the future.
