At the latest EMB General Assembly, member organisations from numerous European countries met to discuss the key challenges faced by the dairy sector. Everyone agreed: even if farmers are now paid cost-covering farm-gate prices more often than before - i.e. we have made progress in achieving one of the EMB’s goals – the fundamental issues plaguing the dairy sector persist and they must be addressed NOW. It is time to stop farms from going out of business – European dairy farmers demand rigorous reforms for future-proof agriculture.

“Real costs plus a profit margin – that’s what we should be receiving and it’s still not the case. The sector is not in good health”, says EMB President Kjartan Poulsen while describing the state of the dairy sector. His colleague, EMB Vice-President Boris Gondouin, adds: “The sector needs positive, long-term regulation. It’s true that a sort of sectoral regulation exists at this moment. But it is highly problematic because it relies on many farms going out of business which, in turn, reduces production volumes. That cannot be the future of the dairy sector!”

The structural issues affecting the milk market have not been resolved. On the contrary: they have become worse than ever before. That is why milk producers must keep up the fight: for far-reaching, sensible reforms.

The EMB appreciates the European Commission’s progressive stance, but we need to see more decisive action

The General Assembly welcomed the European Commission’s current position on the reform of the Common Market Organisation (CMO). But for dairy farmers, that is not enough: we now need the European Parliament and the Council to make specific political decisions to initiate real reforms. That is the only way to keep producers on their farms and for new entrants to find real prospects in the sector.

The EMB calls for the following key reforms:

1. Crisis instruments with preventive effect
   The EMB calls for the integration of anticipatory measures for market stabilisation, such as the Market Responsibility Programme (MRP), to effectively prevent extreme price fluctuations and losses. 
2. Strengthening producer organisations
   Producer organisations across Europe should have collective bargaining power that represents at least 30% of the EU market. This would lead to fairer prices when it comes to market relations with dairies and retailers.
3. Fair trading practices through legislation that bans prices below production costs
   Prices below production costs should be banned to prevent unfair competition and the exploitation of market power along the value chain.
4. Mandatory contracts with fair terms
   The EMB calls for EU-wide compulsory contracts between milk producers and processors as the basis for balanced cooperation on an equal footing.
5. Inclusion of cooperative processors in a fair market system
   Cooperative dairies must be included as an integral part of the market order – with all corresponding rights and duties.
6. Bureaucratic measures that complicate things for producers and production must be identified and drastically reduced: Despite a higher milk price, many farmers are leaving production because additional requirements and ever increasing red tape make it impossible to keep going. Those who nevertheless continue to produce cap their investments massively as they no longer believe in a future in milk production.  

Goal: agriculture with prospects

The EMB General Assembly wishes to send a clear signal to policymakers in Brussels and the individual Member States: without decisive structural reforms, Europe’s dairy sector is heading toward an impasse. “Our proposals point the way to crisis-proof, fair and sustainable milk production. Now is the time to implement them”, underlines EMB President Kjartan Poulsen.

The EMB is not the only organisation advocating for economic and social interests in the agricultural sector. It was an honour to have a representative from the European Federation of Food, Agriculture and Tourism Trade Unions (EFFAT) presenting the positions and goals of their organisation at the EMB General Assembly. It became clear, yet again, that by working together with other constructive players, it is possible to push for important social issues at EU level.

EMB press release of 1 July 2025

At the Annual General Meeting of the Di fair Milch Säuliamt cooperative in 2024, the members – despite the Board’s reservations – decided to bring Fair Milk ice cream on the market, alongside fair milk and fair cream caramels. Just in time for the start of the summer season, the cooperative has now launched sales of regional Säuliamt Fair Milk ice cream.

Subsidies, more subsidies and then some? Has everyone become a beggar these days? Farmers’ organisations such as LRF (Lantbrukarnas Riksförbund - Swedish farmers’ union) and KRAV (Swedish organic food certification body) increasingly demand more support and subsidies, while society keeps piling public responsibilities onto farmers’ shoulders.

On 11 June 2025, MIG, the independent association that represents over 250 milk producers in Wallonia, held its General Assembly, a key moment to look back at the past year and to discuss the future. It was an occasion to evaluate the economic challenges in the sector based on production cost studies and market analyses.