The European Milk Board (EMB) is raising the alarm: Developments on the European and global milk market have reached a new level of escalation. Global milk volumes have increased significantly – and are continuing to rise. Such a surge is far beyond normal market fluctuations and is driving the sector straight towards a new severe crisis. “We are currently witnessing developments we have never seen before in this form. The signals are clear: if no action is taken now, we are heading straight into a milk price collapse,” warns Kjartan Poulsen, President of the EMB.
In many Member States, the seriousness of the situation is already recognised. However, several key countries are still blocking decisive action at European level. The EMB therefore issues a clear call, in particular to Germany, France and Denmark: “Those who continue to hesitate are knowingly accepting another price crash and the massive loss of farms. These countries must finally take responsibility and clearly support the activation of voluntary volume reduction,” stresses Boris Gondouin, Vice-President of the EMB.
Voluntary Volume Reduction is the key instrument to stabilise volumes in the short term and prevent a further price collapse. Without an immediate reduction in production, the crisis will escalate again – with severe consequences for dairy farms across Europe. The EMB makes the central question for the future unmistakably clear: Will Europe’s dairy farmers still be producing in the years to come – or will they be forced to leave the sector? “If we take food security in Europe seriously, we must act now to ensure stable producer prices. This means one thing above all: volumes must be reduced. Only then can we secure a future for the next generation of farmers,” Kjartan Poulsen adds. An increasing number of farms are already exiting the sector. Young farmers in particular are losing perspective as long as markets remain unstable and prices stay below production costs.
The EMB therefore urgently calls for:
Full responsibility from all Member States – especially those still blocking action and clear political support for reducing production volumes at EU level
Immediate activation of voluntary volume reduction by the EU Commission
The time for waiting is over.
