EMB Newsletter December 2015
Newsletter as PDF
Contact
EMB - European Milk Board asbl
Rue de la Loi 155
B-1040 Bruxelles
Phone: +32 - 2808 - 1935
Fax: +32 - 2808 - 8265
Dear dairy farmers and interested parties,
For us milk producers, a difficult year is coming to an end: another crisis year with precarious milk prices, a new Agriculture Commissioner who trivialises producers' problems and hordes of dairy farmers who are being forced out of business!
Since milk quotas were abolished at the end of March, we have been struggling with the consequences of a dairy market that is out of control. Milk prices have been down in the dumps for months now and there are no signs of improvement.
There is too much milk on the market! As expected, dairy farmers in many EU countries significantly increased their production with the abolishment of quotas. If milk continues to be blithely produced in these times of crisis, there is no way for the milk price to stabilise. The imbalance between supply and demand is only increasing. According to projections, demand for milk in Europe is going to drop further in coming years. In 2015, it is said that there has been a 1% decrease.
2015 was also a trying year for us because policy-makers did not budge and showed no signs of considering structural measures. The European Commission has still not been able to find sustainable solutions to bring an end to this crisis. Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan has chosen to focus on new export markets and short-term financial aid. From national agriculture ministers, only a few isolated calls for structural measures are to be heard.
Looking back on 2015, you can see that we have organised major demonstrations this year. Our actions were keenly observed by fellow protesters, by the opposite party and by international media. The EMB made headlines! November 12 was a Europe-wide day of action with impressive protests in different countries. The actions had a concrete demand - the European Milk Board's Market Responsibility Programme should finally be implemented. You can find an overview of the actions in individual countries in this issue of the newsletter.
In spite of the ongoing dairy crisis, Belgian milk producers did have a few rays of hope in 2015. Faircoop, the cooperative founded 5 years ago to offer farmers a fair price for their milk, now offers consumers and citizens the possibility of becoming members. You can read about how this so-called "COWfunding" works in this issue.
I wonder what European dairy farmers can expect from 2016. If we want to continue doing our job in the next year as well and want to be paid a fair price for our milk, we must put up a strong front in favour of a sustainable milk policy. What are our members ready for in 2016?
Erwin Schöpges, EMB Executive Committee member and MIG Belgium board member
Protest action "Milk for Juncker"
Europe-wide day of protests: You policies are destroying dairy farmers!
Press release: Milk prices only cover 66 per cent of costs
The EU Commission's Milk Market Observatory - Helpless on purpose?
The new EMB milk price comparison - do participate!
EU increases production whereas production in New Zealand declines
For the first time in Belgium: Fairebel introduces COWfunding
Impressum
European Milk Board asbl
Rue de la Loi 155
B-1040 Bruxelles
Phone: +32 2808 1935
Fax: +32 2808 8265
E-Mail: office@europeanmilkboard.org
Website: http://www.europeanmilkboard.org