B3-1488/93

Resolution on the catastrophic situation in the Dutch and German agricultural sector

The European Parliament,

A.having regard to the structural problems affecting the Dutch and German agricultural sectors, whereby the financial reserves of a large number of farmers has sharply diminished over recent years,

B.having regard to the adverse effects of the severe monetary fluctuations in recent years on the evolution of price levels in hard currency countries,

C.having regard to the continuous rain in recent weeks in the Netherlands and northern Germany, as a result of which a large part of the agricultural harvest, especially potatoes and sugar beet, may well be lost; whereas the heavy rainfall is also seriously jeopardizing preparations for next year's crops,

D.whereas the Netherlands Government has acknowledged that specific measures are required in the short term in order to provide the farmers affected with opportunities to survive this difficult period which has been made worse by the heavy rainfall,

1.Calls on the Commission to take specific measures in the short term to provide the hardest hit farms in the Netherlands and Germany with an opportunity to survive the current crisis;

2.Urges in particular, in this connection, that the authorities concerned be contacted to enable income support to be paid to the hardest hit farmers in advance;

3.Calls on the Council and Commission also to consider measures to protect farmers in hard currency Member States from excessive diminution of income;

4.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, Council and the Netherlands and German Governments.