STUDY ON THE VEGETABLES MARKET IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

Abstract

In the European Union, the vegetables and fruit sector accounts for 17% of the agricultural production value. This study aims at presenting and analysing the main specific indicators: cultivated areas, average yields per hectare, consumption, imports and exports. The data used in the paper were provided by: The National institute of Statistics, EUROSTAT, FAOSTAT, FAPRI and USDA. The analysis of the vegetables market at European Union level is first of all a quantitative analysis, but it was also necessary to present on the one hand the main weaknesses and strengths, and on the other hand to describe the implications of the community trade policies on the producers in the vegetables sector. During the analysed interval, this sector was under huge pressure due to the economic crisis, which led to the increase in the vegetable farmers’ demand for an increased financial support provided to them.