Nov 27, 1984

ITALY AND NETHERLANDS SAID TO SEEK EEC FLOWER MONOPOLY.

NAIROBI, NOVEMBER 23 (IPS) -- Italy and the Netherlands are mounting an offensive within the European Economic Community to oust all other suppliers of flowers to the European market, a leading west German flower dealer said here Friday.-

The Netherlands and Italy are the two largest exporters of flowers in the EEC.-

Their Ministers of Agriculture will present their case soon to a special Assembly of EEC Ministers in Brussels, according to Peter Moeller, the Managing Director of the Association of German flower wholesalers and importers.-

Moeller told a press conference at the parliament building here that should the two countries succeed in their efforts Kenya, the fourth largest producer and exporter of flowers in the world, will have no market in Europe.-

He said he and several members of the Bundestag (the West German Parliament) had come to Kenya to, among other things warn the government of the threat to the industry and discuss ways in which West Germany could help Kenya fight for its interests.-

During the tour the delegation has travelled to many Kenyan farms owned by individuals and the agricultural development corporation.-

The team comprises Moeller, George Gallus, Karl Eigen, and Engelbert Sander.-

The delegation has suggested to Kenyan Ministers that a Kenya-German working group set up to keep watch on problems affecting either party and seek the best solutions.-

"We discussed the question of flower production and sale to member countries of the EEC, the talks were very fruitful", Moeller said.-

The speaker of the Kenyan parliament, Fred Mati, told the press conference that West Germany is one of Kenya’s biggest markets for horticultural crops, and he urged the MPs to present Kenya’s case on flowers to the EEC.-