You are invited to the stakeholders' consultation organised by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) in the framework of the preparation of the CoR opinion on " The common market organisation in agricultural products and EU school scheme ", covering the subsequent Proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (EU) No 1370/2013 as regards the aid scheme for the supply of fruit and vegetables, bananas and milk in educational establishments (‘EU school scheme’) - COM(2025) 554 - and Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 as regards the school fruit, vegetables and milk scheme (‘EU school scheme’), sectoral interventions, the creation of a protein sector, requirements for hemp, the possibility for marketing standards for cheese, protein crops and meat, application of additional import duties, rules on the availability of supplies in time of emergencies and severe crisis and securities - COM(2025) 553 published by the European Commission on 16 July 2025.
Mr Alessio MAMMI (IT/PES), Regional Minister for Agriculture of the Emilia-Romagna Region, and rapporteur for this opinion, would like to collect stakeholders' views on these proposals.
Importantly, the Committee of the Regions signals the relevance of this dossier with specific reference to the changes put forward by the European Commission in the financing of Organisations of Producers in the next Multiannual Financial Framework, as well as with reference to the objective of reinforcing producers and farmers power within the supply chain.
Specifically, the Rapporteur Mammi would like to gather your views and feedback on this topic, including but not limited to the following questions:
- How can the role of regions and municipalities in national programmes be strengthened, particularly with regard to food education in schools and the involvement of small producers and local agri-food supply chains? Do you agree that products with designations of origin should also be added to the list of priorities? Do you consider the limits on sugar and fat content to be adequate? How do you view the inclusion of the programme in the single fund outside the CAP's ring-fenced resources?
- Do you consider that the introduction of producer groups as beneficiaries of support interventions could create disparities in terms of responsibilities and access to funding between recognised Producer Organisations and Associations of Producer Organisations—which are required to comply with specific regulatory obligations—and the new entities subject to less stringent requirements?
- Do you consider that the introduction of mandatory national co-financing could lead to distortions in the single market and disparities among Member States in the level of support granted to the same sectors?
- Are the measures provided for in the revision of the CMO Regulation, together with CAP payments, sufficient to foster the development of protein crops in the EU? How can their uptake be encouraged and sustainable regional value chains promoted?
- Do you agree with the promotion of hemp cultivation and with the conditions for its use proposed by the Commission? Do you consider that the development of the hemp value chain could bring benefits to rural areas in terms of crop diversification and the bioeconomy?
- What contribution could regions and local authorities make to the definition and implementation of national preparedness and response plans? How can their involvement be strengthened? How can procedures be simplified and response times accelerated in order to provide timely support to producers affected by climate-related emergencies or market crises?
- Do you agree with the introduction of this protection for meat designations? Do you consider that the list of protected meat designations proposed by the Commission should be expanded or amended?
- Overall, do you consider that the Commission’s proposal to revise the CMO in the context of the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework adequately addresses the main challenges and needs of the sector, in particular with regard to support for producer aggregation, strengthening the position of farmers in the agri-food supply chain, simplification, crisis management, territorial involvement and the promotion of healthy and balanced diets?
The meeting will be held in Italian and English. The consultation will take place on the premises of the CoR, Bâtiment Jacques Delors Rue Belliard 99-101, Brussels, in room JDE 70.