On November 25th , the indorsement by the European Council of the Withdrawal Agreement is a new step forward an orderly Brexit , further minimising the chance of a ' no - deal ’ scenario which would be catastrophic for both EU and British farming biotic community . 60 % of UK agri - food exports go to the EU . EU-27 exports make up an average total of between 70 % and 99 % of all UK imports .

Copa and Cogeca acknowledge the significant campaign of the EU and UK negotiating team in achieving this good deal and barrack parliamentarian for the EU and UK to give a swift close to the detachment process , avoid no slew as a antecedency and ply predictability to trillion of European sodbuster and their cooperatives .

As Copa and Cogeca , we have been very pleased to see that negotiant have agreed upon a transitional period of time . These transitional arrangements will annihilate certain endangerment of deal disruption and additional monetary value for our members . This period of time is fundamental to allow them to prepare forward of time for any possible changes to custom organisation being introduced . For example , no customs operation , no sanitary and phytosanitary review , no extra bureaucracy should be implemented during it . During this clip , the UK would continue to bear by be EU regulations governing food for thought output and to honour its existing commitments .

what is more , Cop and Cogeca welcome very positively that the EU and the UK have also agreed that the blood of existing of EU - approved geographical indication would be legally protect by the withdrawal accord . It is also positive that EU - approve geographical indications bearing names of UK blood line remain unaffected with the EU .

Copa and Cogeca noticed as well with majuscule satisfaction that negotiators have agreed in full on the term of the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland . This lives up to the commitments made by both sides to ascertain that a heavy border will not be introduced on the Island of Ireland .

There is still work to do and uncertainty in the negotiations on the hereafter of the family relationship between the EU and the UK , but we should welcome this first outcome and the commitment of negotiators and governments on all sides .

Copa and Cogeca consider that the declaration for the succeeding relationship correspond to our call to the negotiators to keep the closest trading family relationship . It is very confirming that the EU and the UK would seek new custom arrangements that facilitate craft that is as frictionless as possible , while uphold the integrity of the EU Single Market .

It is crucial to avoid set - up new - tariff barriers in the kind of customs or border necessity , and especially in the form of Modern regulative procedures . We then support positively that the economic partnership should ensure no tariffs , fees , billing or quantitative restrictions across all sectors , with challenging customs arrangement that build and improve on the individual impost dominion put up for in the Withdrawal Agreement , guarantying the individual securities industry protective cover and the residential district preference , blow up to the United Kingdom .

Furthermore , it is essential to maintain a storey playing field in the future relationship between the EU and the UK . The EU should maintain its high intellectual nourishment output standard , an import products should respect these standards , irrespective of their rootage . Copa and Cogeca is happy to comment that these arrangements will be bear out by provisions ensuring a level acting champaign for open and fair contention .

Copa and Cogeca call as well the European Union and the United Kingdom to uphold research and scientific cooperation regarding issues related to agriculture and food production .

For further information , please contact : François GuerinEmail:[email   protected ]

Jean - Baptiste BoucherMobile : + 32 474 840 836Email:[email   protect ]