The paper makes a review of the agricultural risks management systems in Europe (EU27) with a special focus on agricultural insurances. The different types of agricultural insurance systems existing in Europe and key figures in each country are discussed. The relationship between Government involvement and insurance development is highlighted. Usually, private companies insure only hail and fire, but as the government involvement in insurance increases, more comprehensive coverage is provided by the insurance system, becoming possible the insuring of agricultural systemic risks. Ex-post aid to disasters in agriculture is given on an ad-hoc basis or through compensation schemes or calamity funds, which can be partially financed by the agricultural sector on a voluntary or compulsory basis. Payments ad-hoc and from calamity funds in most European countries are summarised and their levels are compared. The existing insurance level is generally insufficient to smooth significant income reduction in bad years. Risk management tools available in the MS could be developed further. However, given the heterogeneous situation, the interest of a harmonised EU-wide system of agricultural insurances is debatable. Other alternatives could be considered, such as facilitating/subsidizing the composition of yield/income databases at a detailed level (farm); promoting public reinsurance; clarifying/homogenizing the legal framework; partially subsidizing national systems which are within the framework.

BIELZA DIAZ-CANEJA Maria;  CONTE Costanza;  DITTMANN Christoph;  GALLEGO PINILLA Francisco;  STROBLMAIR Josef; 

2009-05-11

Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Medio Rural y Marino

JRC46337

http://www.mapa.es/es/ministerio/pags/publicaciones/periodicas/agrosociales/221/indice221_09.htm,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC46337,