The unions and representative groups of a range of horticultural sectors across Europe have come together to assess the effect of the COVID-19 outbreak on the industry across the continent.
The unique survey provides a first indication of the actual economic impact of COVID-19 on the EU flower & live plants sector. Losses reported for the sector across the EU reached an estimated total of €4.12 billion in March and April 2020 in 17 EU countries across the 4 sub-sectors of cut flowers, pot plants, bulbs, and nursery stock, which accounts for almost to 10 per cent of the annual total EU market value.
The four organisations behind the survey (UNION FLEURS, ENA, AREFLH and COPA-COGECA), commented, ‘This first estimate clearly demonstrates the brutal impact that the pandemic and lockdown measures implemented across the EU have had on the sector during the peak of the Spring season. These losses will never be recovered and will have to be absorbed by the thousands of companies of the flower & live plants sector in the EU. Coupled with the lack of a uniform and coordinated response so far by national governments across the EU, this further reinforces the need for a more meaningful and direct EU financial support to the sector.’
A spokesperson for the groups added, “As the market situation is overall far from being yet normalised despite a re-start of activities in most EU countries since May, perspectives remain uncertain for the sector across the EU. A coordinated financial support at EU level continues to be actively called for, also to preserve the integrity of the EU Single Market and secure a fair operating environment across the EU without risking any distortions of competition on the market.”
Photo source: UNION FLEURS, ENA, AREFLH and COPA-COGECA