Today, Fair Trade organisations from across Europe sent a joint letter to the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, Christophe Hansen, welcoming the growing momentum of the debate on fair remuneration for farmers in Europe.

As this discussion moves forward at EU level, the Fair Trade Movement stresses the importance of grounding it in a clear and accurate understanding of how Fair Trade schemes work in practice and the contribution they already make to supporting farmers.

The European Commission’s recent study on regulatory and voluntary schemes for fair agricultural remuneration highlights that voluntary initiatives can complement legislation and help drive progress towards fairer and more sustainable agricultural value chains. 

For decades, Fair Trade organisations have demonstrated that fair prices, long-term trading relationships and greater economic security for farmers can make supply chains more resilient while improving producers' livelihoods. But, as the Fair Trade Movement letter clarifies, voluntary initiatives alone cannot transform the system. Public policies remain essential to ensure that farmers across Europe can earn a decent and stable income.

Through this joint contribution, Fair Trade organisations aim to support a better understanding of what Fair Trade means in the EU debate and to continue a constructive dialogue with EU institutions on fair remuneration in agriculture.

Read the full letter here.

Signatories:

Commerce Équitable France
Coordinadora Estatal de Comercio Justo
Fair Trade Advocacy Office (FTAO)
Fairtrade International
Forum Fairer Handel
Max Havelaar France
Swiss Fair Trade
World Fair Trade Organization - Global
World Fair Trade Organization - Europe

Get in touch

For more information, please reach out to our Managing Director, Jorge Conesa, at conesa@fairtrade-advocacy.org