Several thousand farmers gathered in Strasbourg yesterday (14 July) to protest over the need for a responsible agricultural policy, in particular for the dairy sector.
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The demonstrations, over the “catastrophic” milk market situation, came on the day the President of the new EU Parliament was elected.
The European Milk Board (EMB) and European Coordination Via Campesina (ECVC) producers said they are united in their demand for measures that restore equilibrium to the milk market, enabling a rise in prices paid to milk producers.
Producers currently receive between 20 and 22 cents a litre, a price the EMB says is “way below production costs and now threatening the livelihood of many a farm”.
Romuald Schaber, president of the EMB said: “As an immediate measure we demand that at least 5% of the milk quota be frozen. The decrease in the volume of milk would mean supply were adjusted to demand again and fair producer prices gradually became reality.
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By GlobalData“But we have to go a step further to ensure that supply can also be adjusted to demand in the future. This change to the system is indispensable.”
The ECVC believe EU agricultural policy needs to focus on milk production that spares resources and is autonomous.
René Louail, board member of the ECVC said: “The principle of food sovereignty has to carry on being the core issue for coping with the challenges of the current crisis. Pan-European agriculture secured via cost-covering producer prices is the basis of reliable supply of fresh, high-quality food to the people of Europe.”
Following the demonstration a delegation from both organisations met EU politicians for talks at the European Parliament.
