€500m EU dairy aid package 'far from enough to overcome the crisis', warns European Milk Board

Producers on the dairy market are under exceptional pressure, the EMB warns
Producers on the dairy market are under exceptional pressure, the EMB warns

The measures adopted by the EU's Agriculture Council to give €500 million is "far from enough to overcome the crisis," according to the European Milk Board.

"Producers on the dairy market are under exceptional pressure," the Board said, describing thebcrisis with 'continuously sinking milk prices' that has dairy farms across the EU at the 'end of their tether.'

"It was therefore key that yesterday's Agriculture Council decided on radical measures to reduce overproduction on the market.

"This amount is not nearly enough in light of the severity of the current crisis"
"This amount is not nearly enough in light of the severity of the current crisis"

"However, the measures adopted yesterday are not going to provide the urgent reorientation the sector needs

"Instead of taking a consequent EU-wide approach, which would offer all producers the possibility of voluntary production cuts, 350 million euros of the total 500 million package, that is, the majority was allocated to measures that are not clearly defined."

Romuald Schaber, President of the European Milk Board (EMB), is disappointed: "Production cuts is the label used to describe the current package of measures.

"However, no one wants to take a crack at their proper implementation, with 150 million euros merely to be used for measures to reduce production.

"This amount is not nearly enough in light of the severity of the current crisis."

Too short a reduction period and no simultaneous capping

The EMB explained that the envisaged reduction period of 3 months is 'too short'.

This is during the time which willing producers will receive financial compensation, but there is no simultaneous volume capping for other producers.

"Therefore, there is a great risk that the achieved reductions will be neutralised by increased production by other producers and the effect on milk prices will be minimal or insignificant.

"The equivalent 14 cents to be paid for each litre of milk not produced is not enough of an incentive either.

"This compensation has to be higher in order to generate enough willingness and bring about sufficient volume reduction on the market.

"With prices that are sometimes below 20 cents per litre of milk, we are facing an acute and significant crisis in the dairy sector in Europe. This crisis must be combated with consequent and clear policy," says Schaber.

"However, the European Commission and some Member States have been trying to ignore the consequences of this crisis for months now.

The EMB concluded: "Sadly, the measures adopted yesterday show that nothing has changed."