19 July 1994

Doc. 7130

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

on the importance of the wool industry

for rural areas in difficulty

presented by Mr SCHEER and others 1

1.       The Assembly notes with concern the gradual abandonment of some rural areas in western Europe, particularly in mountain regions. Their depopulation has led to an increasing concentration of people living in towns and their suburbs.

2.       In the countries of central and eastern Europe, where the rural population often exceeds 30% of the total, a similar development, which might well be even more rapid and drastic, would create social problems with serious consequences for the whole of Europe.

3.       For several years, a certain awareness of the need to maintain activity in problem areas has been evident. In Order No. 490 in particular, the Assembly recognised that balanced and harmonious development of rural regions in Europe was vital to the preservation of a living countryside and to a policy for the sustainable resource management. It asked its Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development to make proposals for a European rural charter, based on the fundamental principles of sustainable development and respect for the environment.

4.       The Assembly regrets, however, that the measures envisaged do not take sufficient account of the natural resources and traditional activities of these regions which could, if given appropriate support, contribute significantly to their development.

5.       Sheep farming and wool processing used to be central elements in the economy of rural areas in difficulty. The current wool crisis is seriously affecting both sheep farmers, who are losing an addition to their already modest income, and the woollen industry which, following closure of nearly all the small local firms, is now losing its major plants as well.

      Only a fraction of the wool processed in Europe is of European origin. In general, however, it tends to be the small firms which process locally produced wool.

      Wool suffers from the fact that it is not recognised as an agricultural product by the European Union, and so receives no assistance.

6.       Quality goods, regional labelling and properly targeted support would enable sheep farmers to survive by guaranteeing them a market and thus creating employment in problem areas.

7.       The Assembly accordingly proposes, as part of the work on the preparation of the European rural charter:

i.       that a Europe-wide study of the wool industry, from sheep farming to processing and marketing, be carried out in co-operation with professional associations and organisations already working in this field;

ii.       that appropriate measures be devised for revitalisation of the wool industry.

Signed:

Scheer, Dundee, Anttila, Fenner, Brennan, Holte, Soell,

Bühler, Reimann, Bindig, Blunck, Probst, Holtz, Steiner,

Büchler, Böhm, Terborg, Roman, Stoffelen, Gelderblom-Lankhout,

Brito, Rodrigues, Berger, Hardy, Laanoja, Hadjidemetriou

1 ¹ 1. This text only represents the views of the individual members who have signed it. It does not reflect a position adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly.