Today's EU conference needs to provide a solid basis to shape the future of the EU dairy market!
(Brussels, 24th September 2013) The milk market is far from being prepared for the situation after 2015. By putting forward new realistic proposals, the conference organised by the European Commission in Brussels today could be an opportunity to offer the milk market and its actors a future, also beyond 2015. But the question remains: will this opportunity be seized?
"The milk crises in 2008-2009 showed in a frightening way that the milk market is not functional without an efficient regulation of supply. One year after the crisis, one out of three dairy farmers in Europe (EU-27) who were still active in 2007 had put an end to production. Should another crisis of this magnitude hit the milk market in Europe, it would be at risk of loosing it's widespread milk production", says Romuald Schaber, President of the European Milk Board (EMB).
At today's conference, Romuald Schaber and Andrea Fink-Kessler from the German Büro für Agrar- und Regionalentwicklung (BAR) are going to present a scientific study on the instrument of a European Monitoring Agency. According to this study, such a monitoring body would allow a flexible adaptation of milk supply to demand, so that the balance could be restored on the market and average milk prices could be kept at a cost-covering level. That way a sustainable and widespread milk production and supply in the EU would be guaranteed.
But it is equally important to contain the risks of global, but extreme volatile markets. This is possible through market instruments implemented through the Monitoring Agency and for which no costs would be incurred for the society as a whole. The current EMB study on a Monitoring Agency also provides useful information and expertise on that subject, which can be used in the elaboration of new EU Commission proposals for the milk market.
The European Milk Board (EMB) is a European umbrella association representing 19 milk producer organisations from 14 European countries and a total of approximately 100.000 dairy farmers. Around 75% of the milk volume in Europe is produced in its member states.
Contacts:
EMB-Vice-President Sieta van Keimpema (EN, NL, DE): 0031/612168000
EMB press contact - Christian Schnier (DE, EN, FR): 0032 28081935
