During the Parliamentary plenary held today in Strasbourg, MEPs adopted the report on the implementation of the school scheme for fruit, vegetables, milk, and dairy products, with a clear majority (534 in favour, 57 against and 23 in abstention). Copa and Cogeca welcome the adoption of the report prepared by MEP Carmen Avram (S&D, RO).
A real flagship of the Common Agriculture Policy, the EU school scheme has ensured that millions of students in the EU enjoy nutritious foods during their education. Furthermore, this scheme improves students’ knowledge on how food is produced through essential educational measures, such as farm visits and the fight against food waste.
The EU farming community strongly welcomes the call to increase the budget and more specifically, to strengthen the educational measures. After a solid vote in COM AGRI, MEPs have officially approved the report, adopting further relevant changes for European farmers and agri-cooperatives.
To remain credible, this programme had to remain factual and avoid being a gateway to ideology. MEPs have ensured that plant-based drinks will not enter the scheme despite heavy pressure to do so; thus, rejecting different amendments tabled in plenary. Besides, as they are mainly produced with non-European inputs (which goes against the principle of the “short supply chain”), these products are not substitutes for dairy products. Studies have demonstrated that plant-based drinks are not comparable in any way in terms of nutrition, to dairy products.
We also welcome the indication of a strong market driven approach for organic consumption.
Copa and Cogeca now call on the Commission to take a close look at what MEPs have agreed on and prepare a revision of the scheme which is ambitious enough to reflect the good work done by the rapporteur and the shadows rapporteurs.
Artigo publicado originalmente em Copa Cogeca.
