17/09/2009

Copa and Cogeca welcomed the new initiatives announced by Euro-MPs and the EU Commission today to help improve the catastrophic situation in the EU dairy sector, but insisted that much more action is required in order to bring the sector out of crisis.

Speaking after the debate in European Parliament in Strasbourg today, Copa President Padraig Walshe said “I welcome EU Farm Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boels’ proposal to bring the dairy sector under Article 186 of the Single Common Market Organisation which will enable the EU Commission to take temporary action quickly during times of market disturbance. Additional funds must be made available in order to make this work ”. Cogeca President Gert Van Dijk added “European Parliaments’ demands to set up an EU Dairy Fund worth 600 million euros to aid cooperatives and producer organisations to support farm modernisation is also welcomed. This should help to strengthen dairy producers position in the food chain, which is continuing to be eroded, to the benefit of retailers”.

Further more, Copa and Cogeca welcomed the Commissioners proposal to launch a debate on the future of the EU dairy sector but insists that farm organisation experts must be involved in the working group which will be set up to discuss this. Copa and Cogeca also warned that the current market situation is still catastrophic and European dairy producers are estimated to lose over 10 billion euros by the end of this year without stronger measures to help rebalance the market. Copa and Cogeca consequently urge EU politicians to use all market measures available, especially in public intervention, as well as actions to stimulate demand.

Amanda Cheesley

Press Officer

Copa­-Cogeca

WWW.copa-cogeca.eu

Tel. : + 32 (0)2 287 27 90

Mobile +32 (0) 474 84 08 36

Amanda.cheesley@copa-cogeca.eu