Representatives of producers, consumer associations, dairy industries, distribution, cooperativism, as well as experts and administration officials are part of the 42 comparents included in the work plan of the non-permanent study commission on the factors influencing the price of milk. This body also contemplates the request for a total of 57 reports.
The plan was approved this Wednesday in the Parliament of Galicia with the support of PPdeG and PSdeG and the abstention of the Galician Nationalist Bloc. The deputy of Democracia Ourensana, Armando Ojea, also opted for abstention.
Among those called to appear are, representing the producer sector, spokespersons for Unións Agrarias, Sindicato Labrego Galego (SLG), Asaga, Unión Leiteira Galega (Ulega), Federación Frisona Galega (Fefriga), Agromuralla, Cooperativa O Rodo, from the Regulatory Council of Organic Agriculture of Galicia (Creaga) and the mediator of commercial relations in France, Jo-Michel Dahan.
On behalf of consumers, a representative of the Galician Council of Consumers and Users will attend. In the industrial field, more than a dozen interventions are scheduled: Lactalis, Central Lechera Asturiana, Corporación Rural Lácea (Leite Celta + Clun), Leite Río, Naturleite, National Federation of Dairy Industries (FeNIL) and the Interprofessional Dairy Organization (Inlac), Inleit, Industrias Lácteas Asturianas, Queserías Entrepinares, Queizauar SL and Queixeriás Bama, Agrolácteos Galicia, Cooperativa Hoxe, DOP Queixo Tetitlla and DOP Queixo Arzúa-Ulloa.
In the distribution chapter, the intervention of Gadisa, Vegalsa Eroski, Lidl, Mercadona and Carrefour is foreseen. From the agricultural cooperativism sector, Clun, Aira, Agaca and the Provincial Agrarian Cooperative of A Coruña are summoned.
From the university and technical environment, the presence of the former Minister of Agriculture of the Xunta between 1987 and 1990 and Professor of Agricultural Economics at the Higher Polytechnic School of the Lugo Campus of the USC, Francisco Sineiro García; the representative of Ugasma S.L., Laura Seoane; and the economist, researcher and professor at the USC, specialist in Rural Development and former Director General of Rural Development between 2005 and 2009, Edelmiro López Iglesias, are contemplated.
The manager of the Galician Interprofessional Laboratory for Milk Analysis (Ligal), Roberto Lorenzana, will also appear, as well as a representative of the Juana de Vega Foundation.
Regarding the Administration, the list includes the Director General of Livestock, Agriculture and Agri-food Industries, José Balseiros; the Director General of the CAP and Food Chain Control, Juan José Cerviño; the Director of the Information and Food Control Agency (AICA), María Fernández Sanz; and the Director General of Agricultural Markets of the Ministry of Agriculture, Elenea Busutil.
In addition, the preparation of up to 57 reports is requested from bodies such as the Galician Dairy Observatory, various experts, and institutions such as the Xunta, the central Government, and the European Union.
Position of the parliamentary groups
In statements sent to the media, the PPdeG deputy Miguel Viso highlighted that this Wednesday an "important step" has been taken because, from now on, there is "a clear roadmap to develop useful work in the service of the Galician dairy sector".
The popular parliamentarian stressed that the approval of this work plan "is much more than an agreement between the groups" as it reflects the commitment of the Galician Chamber to analyze "with rigor" the reasons why farmers "continue to not receive a fair price for the milk they produce".
Miguel Viso indicates that contributions from different formations have been incorporated because they understand that "when it comes to defending a strategic sector for Galicia, what matters is not who makes the proposal, but that the proposal is useful". Likewise, he has valued the "common" objective of being able to "offer useful responses" and a "future horizon for the Galician dairy sector".
Abstention and criticism from the BNG
During the session, as explained by BNG sources, the nationalists opted to abstain, understanding that the plan does not include any of the information requests made by the Bloc in its proposals.
In the same way, these sources warn that the appearances and the required documentation may overlap in time, so it is not guaranteed that the reports will be available sufficiently in advance for their analysis and preparation.
They also reproach that "many proposals for BNG attendees were left out, including experts --César Resch or Gonzalo Flores--, farmers, and even Fruga."
The Bloc maintains that "there was no real negotiation" of the plan and that the PP presented a list in which few proposals from those suggested by the PSOE "were left out" while at least seven were excluded from the BNG, something it frames within the "usual imposition attitude of the PP" that "came with a tailor-made proposal in which no concessions were made to the Bloc".
Furthermore, the BNG criticizes that the appearance of the Minister of Rural Affairs, María José Gómez, was not accepted, despite being "the highest responsible for the dairy sector and rural areas", leaving, in its opinion, "to appear" what, for the nationalists, reflects a "roadmap of total contempt for the sector".
"The commission, despite being in a great hurry to start it, does not have as much hurry to finish it, being able to extend in time, as it lacks stipulated deadlines," censures the BNG.
On the other hand, sources from the PSdeG have pointed out that, although not all their demands are met, they have supported the plan to respond to the request made by Unións Agrarias for the commission to be launched as soon as possible.