25.04.2011

Invitation to action and press conference of milk producers in Brussels - Trouble is brewing in the dairy market

 

“Fiery” action and press conference of milk producers on May 4th, 2011

Delegations of milk producers from numerous countries will stage a strong action in front of the European parliament to address the members of parliament as the representatives of the people directly and to present them with their demands. A major demand is, for instance, that milk producers get far better pooling possibilities than proposed by the European Commission.

The Committee on Agriculture will vote at the end of May on the Nicholson-report, a legislative proposal on the dairy market. By staging this action the milk producers want to call on the members of parliament to represent the opinion of the people. That is the opinion of the European dairy farmers who need a fair income and the opinion of the people in the EU who want a sustainable agriculture.

We would like to invite you to an expressive, vibrant and “fiery” action of milk producers where the members of the European Parliament will be presented with our demands on Wednesday May 4^th, 2011.

Prior to this action we will organise a press conference where representatives of milk producers will explain in detail what they expect the European Parliament to do with regard to the framework conditions for the dairy market.

 

Press conference: 10:30, Renaissance Hotel, Rue du Parnasse 19, 1050 Brussels

Action: 12:00, Place du Luxembourg, 1050 Brussels

 

The critical situation of European dairy farms and what is at stake will be visible and tangible during this “fiery” action of milk producers with delegations from many European countries.

 

Background

After two dramatic years with tremendous financial losses for milk producers the milk prices have slightly recovered. There is, however, no reason to give an all-clear. On the one hand production costs are once more increasing disproportionately and undo the modest improvements on the income side.  On the other hand measures were taken to prevent another failure of the market were neither taken at the European nor at the national level. On May 24^th and 25^th, 2011 the Committee on Agriculture of the European Parliament will vote on the Nicholson-report and will thus take a position on the proposals outlined in the milk package of the European Commission.

Contact:

EMB press office: Silvia Däberitz (DE, EN, ES): 0049 2381 4361 200