New EU rules providing the opportunity for farmers to jointly plan milk production have now been finalised and published.
As announced by Commissioner Hogan in March in response to the difficult milk market situation, the Commission is open to allowing agreements between recognised Producer Organisations, their associations and recognised Interbranch Organisations to plan milk production for a temporary period of 6 months.
This option is provided in the context of Article 222 of the CAP Market Regulation, which was introduced for the first time in the 2013 CAP Reform.
A separate Delegated Regulation, also published today, extends the measure to cooperatives and other forms of Producer Organisations.
Addressing the European Parliament Plenary Session in Strasbourg today, EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan stated: "The responsibility for the speedy implementation [of these rules] is now with the co-legislators and I call on you to seize that responsibility with a view to ensuring that this measure is used as an effective contribution towards greater market balance in the dairy sector."
The milk market situation was also discussed by EU Agriculture Ministers at yesterday's Council in Luxembourg.
As discussed with Member State ministry delegates in the CMO Committee in March (and voted through), this new Implementing Regulation will allow the planning of production during spring and summer to coincide with the high production season in the milk sector and therefore have a more significant impact.
This authorisation covers all Member States given that the severe market imbalance is common to the whole European Union. Notifications should allow the Mamber State competent authorities to assess the measures and ensure their compatibility with the proper functioning of the internal market and their effectiveness in stabilising the milk market.
'Fast relief'
MEPs said the EU must come up with more decisive actions to deliver fast relief to farmers in the worst-hit sectors, such as dairy and livestock.
They also called for structural reforms to better balance the supply chain, ensure fairer income for farmers and assist them to become more resilient to market shocks.
Many MEPs criticised the Commission for doing too little, too late to solve the worst agriculture crisis in recent decades.
Some insisted that more market interventions were needed, including at least a temporary regulation of supply, while others, claiming an attempt to liberalise the EU's agriculture had failed, advocated further market regulation and incentives for farmers to voluntarily cut production.
Several MEPs also warned national attempts to solve the crisis had proven ineffective and warned against “renationalising” EU farm policy.
Some also voiced concerns about the international trade agreements that the EU is now negotiating and insisted that EU farm policy must not be used as a bargaining chip at expense of EU farmers.
Hogan said recently many links are 'currently broken' in the food supply chain.
