1. National Agricultural Research Foundation (N.AG.RE.F.) Komotini Agricultural Research Station Merarhias Serron 18, Komotini 69 100, Greece

2. The prospects of the European Sericulture within the frame of the EU Common Agricultural Policy

3. Kipriotis Evripidis, M.Sc., Ph.D. National Agricultural Research Foundation (N.AG.RE.F.) Komotini Agricultural Research Station Merarhias Serron 18, Komotini 69 100, Greece

4. Agriculture in EU The European Union (EU) is characterised by a predominantly rural geography, influenced by human occupation and activity. The various rural areas show particular differences, since their natural environments have been affected by numerous schemes of farming and forestry and the associated with them crafts and industries. Agriculture and forestry in the EU represent the major land users, having in this way a dominant role in influencing the rural economies and the rural landscape as well.

5. EU agriculture is a multi- dimensional activity It involves many different functions and among them the major ones are: Food and fibre production Countryside management Nature conservation Tourism

6. The EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Europe’s agricultural policy is determined as Common Agricultural Policy ( CAP) It is monitored by the governments of Member States and operated by the Member States. It involves support to the farmer’s income and also encourages the production of high quality products and the development of additional ways of improving the agricultural businesses.

7. The EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) The first ideas concerning a European CAP first appeared, among the western European countries, in early 1950s derived from the need for guaranteed food supplies. This early CAP’s attempt was to encourage better productivity in the food chain and provide to the consumers a stable supply of affordable food. This early CAP approached its goals by offering subsidies and guaranteed prices to farmers and also financial assistance for the restructuring of farming. The adopted by the European countries CAP was very successful in meeting its objective of moving the newly established EU towards self- sufficiency. By the 1980s though, the EU faced almost permanent surpluses of the major farm commodities, some of which were exported, mostly with the help of subsidies. These necessary measures created a high budgetary cost and distorted some world markets, driving to the necessity of some reforms.

8. The CAP of today Since those first attempts many changes had been made to the CAP The most important of them around the 1990s. Through this limits put on the production helped to reduce product surpluses. Emphasis also was placed on environmentally sound of farming. Farmers had to activate themselves more to the direction of market place, while receiving direct income aid by means of subsidies This shift of emphasis included as major new element the rural development policy, encouraging farmers to diversify and improve their product marketing and to restructure their businesses. In 2003 a further fundamental reform was agreed. From then on farmers are no longer paid just to produce food. Today’s CAP takes consumers’ and tax­payers’ concerns fully into account, while giving EU farmers the freedom to produce what the market wants. The concept of this reform is that in future, the vast majority of aid to farmers will be paid independently of what or how much they produce.

9. The CAP of today In the past, the more farmers produced the more subsidy payments they received. Under the new system farmers will still receive direct income payments to maintain income stability, but the link to production has been set aside. In addition, farmers will have to respect standards concerning environment, food safety and animal welfare and farmers failing to do this will face reductions in their direct payments. Removing the link between subsidies and production, the so termed ‘decoupling’, is expected to make EU farmers more competitive and market-oriented. They will be free to produce according to what is most profitable for them while still obtaining a stability of income through the direct income payments.

10. The CAP of today Within these frames the exceptional nature and quality of some products derives from both their place of production and the methods used to make them. Both consumers and the food trade are increasingly interested in the geographical origin of products and other characteristics of them. The EU has developed to this direction three ‘quality logos’ connected to Protected Designations of Origin and Protected Geographical Indications (PDO and PGI). They both apply to agricultural products or foodstuffs with a strong link to a specific region or place. The third logo is the Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG) logo, and is used for products with distinctive features and which either have traditional ingredients or are made using traditional methods.

11. The CAP of today gives also attention to specific activities as: Organic agriculture Organic farming is a production method that maintains soil structure and fertility, promotes a high standard of animal welfare, and avoids the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, chemical fertilisers, growth promoters such as hormones and antibiotics, or genetically modified organisms. By law the use of the word ‘organic’, and its equivalent in other languages, is reserved solely for products of organic farming. This gives guarantees to consumers about the quality and reliability of the organic produce they buy. Agri-environment measures and rural development Agri-environment schemes have been supported by the EU since they were introduced in 1992. They encourage farmers to provide environmental services which go beyond following good agricultural practice and basic legal standards. Aids may be paid to farmers who sign up voluntarily to agri- environment commitments for a minimum period of five years.

12. The EU rural Development Policy is based on three main instuments: The EU strategic guidelines for Rural Development The Council Regulation on support for rural development by the new European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) The Commission Implementing Regulation.

13. The EU strategic guidelines for rural development Improving the competitiveness of the agricultural and forestry sectors Improving the environment and the countryside Improving the quality of life in rural areas and encouraging diversification Building Local Capacity for Employment and Diversification Translating priorities into programmes Complementarity between Community Instruments

14. Sericulture in the EU today Silkworm rearing within the E.E.C. countries is practiced only in the southern part of Europe and more specifically in the Mediterranean and southern Balkan countries. As an agricultural activity in the present time holds a minor share among the rest activities.

15. Sericulture in the EU today Sericulture in EU is considered as one of the protected and promoted ones, being subsidized by around Euro 132 per box of 20.000 eggs (EU Regulation 845/1972, Article 1). This subsidy creates a considerably interesting income to the farmer involved to sericulture, added to the cocoon value, being though at the same time inseparable to the mulberry cultivation, which provides the sole food of the silkworm. Mulberry plantation compared to other traditional crops becomes very interesting taking in consideration the fact that according to the EU Regulation 1782/2003 (council 23-0- 2003, EU Journal 21-10-2003) the yearly subsidies of the traditional crops will be restricted up to 2012, something which creates opportunities for new mulberry plantations.

16. Additional benefits of sericulture deriving from CAP Article 53 of EU Regulation 1782/2003 (council 23-0-2003, EU Journal 21-10-2003) involves obligation to cessation of cultivation of a certain percentage of the farmer’s total land. Article 54 provides a subsidizing to this cessation of cultivation. In the same time article 56 permits alternative uses of land during cessation of cultivation and leaves open the possibility of additional national subsidy, up to 50% of the costs for the establishment of perennial crops for biomass production onto lands under such treatment. The interesting point of this possibility is that mulberry tree is included in the perennial crops, being simultaneously considered as ‘’energy crop’’, for which article 88 provides an additional subsidy of 45 euro/ha/year. All the above are far more strengthened by EU Regulation 1257/1999 whose paragraph 3 (articles 31 and 55) provides additional subsidy according the afforestated area of each country, giving to mulberry tree more opportunities for establishment. The above described advantages for mulberry field installation and further silkworm rearing can be additionally benefited by EU Regulation 1257/1999, (paragraph 3 article, 55), and EU Title II, (chapter V, articles 13 to 21), which both provide subsidies for disadvantageous areas according to their area. Such areas in the most of the cases are suitable for silkworm rearing.

17. Conclusions All the above described facts considered in parallel with the continuously increasing demand for silk products within Europe and the entire world as well, predispose a promising future for sericulture in EU countries.

18. This out coming conclusion is additionally strengthened by its complete coincidence to the main topics and targets of the new CAP, and more specifically: Sericulture provides reasonable income to the farmer. It can by it self very easily participate to the production of Protected Designations of Origin and Protected Geographical Indications (PDO and PGI) and Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG) products. It certainly contributes, due to its nature to sustainability and efficiency of land and labour use. It, by all means represents, a safe, clean and environmentally friendly produc­tion method. It serves rural communities, taking in consideration their tradition and diversity, and contributes to all the above described EU strategic guidelines. It definitely contributes to rural Development and guarantees the survival of the countryside as a place to live, work and visit. It represents by itself an ideal form of organic farming.

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