14.10.2009

Press Invitation to Major Demonstration on Monday, October 19

 

EU Agriculture Council in Luxembourg: Several thousand dairy farmers from all over Europe expected

The weeks and months of protests by European dairy farmers have finally put the political machinery in motion. "Dairy farmers welcome the statement by the majority of the agriculture ministers that they wish to retain an innovative production management system also after 2015, thus putting an end to the milk crisis," says Romuald Schaber, President of the European Milk Board (EMB), commenting on the meeting of the ministers that took place in Vienna on October 12.

Referring to the meeting of the EU Council of Agriculture Ministers, to be held in Luxembourg on Monday October 19, Schaber has this to say: "Within this logic, it now makes sense to effectively remove the milk surpluses from the market in the short term." The European Milk Board (EMB) is demanding that EU agriculture ministers immediately restrict netting across Europe and implement a voluntary suspension of partial quotas without delay. This means that as a result, it will be possible to limit milk production, allowing dairies once more to pay significantly better prices for milk. The long-term aim is to set up a monitoring mechanism, in which milk producers, consumers, dairies and politicians take joint responsibility and analyse the market, with the aim of bringing milk production in line with demand. One of the targets is to achieve a price that will cover the costs incurred by the producers.

"There will be several thousand dairy farmers and several hundred tractors making their way to Luxembourg next Monday, to lend emphasis to their demands," says Fredy de Martines of the LDB, the Luxembourg branch organisation of the EMB. In addition to a rally, a number of powerful demonstrations are also planned, and media partners are invited to attend.

Mass Demonstration and Rally

Date: Monday, October 19.

Time: 1.00pm to 4.00pm – beginning at 10.00am, farmers will begin driving their tractors accompanied by police escorts

Venue: Kirchberg Exhibition Centre, Luxexpo S.A., 10 circuit de la Foire Internationale, L-1347 Luxembourg-Kirchberg

For more information on the demonstration in Luxemburg, contact Fredy de Martines of the LDB, the Luxemburg branch organisation of the EMB, at 0035/2691998831

Contacts of the participating countries:

France - Pascal Massol (APLI): 0033/670517303. Daniel Condat (OPL): 0033/6 07 08 62 40

Germany (BDM) - Romuald Schaber: 0049/15155037174

Belgium (MIG) - Erwin Schöpges: 0032/497904547

Austria (IG-Milch) - Ernst Halbmayr: 0043/6649249635

Luxemburg (LDB) - Fredy de Martines: 0035/2691998831

Switzerland (Uniterre) - Rudi Berli: 0041/787077883

Netherlands (DDB) - Sieta van Keimpema: 0031/612168000

Italy (APL) - Roberto Cavaliere: 0039/335 635 6361