Friday, 2 October, will see strong protest action in many European countries. More and more countries are joining in the intense protests from farmers in Europe, such as Spain, where a campaign of action is being aimed at the national government level.

The reason for this is the European Ministers of Agriculture’s informal conference in Brussels on 5 October to discuss the milk issue that was called at short notice because of the week-long farmers’ protests in Europe. The dairy farmers are expecting the Ministers of Agriculture of the EU member states to introduce vital measures at the conference for the change of system necessary in the milk policy. The basis for this is the position paper submitted by the European Milk Board (EMB), which calls for flexible control of volumes at the heart of the political framework required.

On a regional level there are almost daily protests in many countries at present. And the campaigns of action planned for Friday also make it clear that the milk producers in Europe will be watching the implementation of previous political commitments and further political measures that must not come to nothing. Only this way can the situation be defused. Plans for 2 October in several European capitals and a large number of regions include waves of demonstrations outside agricultural administration buildings, demo processions with tractors, all manner of public information events and protests outside dairies.

Contacts for campaigns of action in the following 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

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

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

Switzerland (Uniterre) - Rudi Berli: 0041/787077883

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

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

Spain (PROLEC) - Esther Lopera: 0034/932031286