A delegation of milk producers, led by Romuald Schaber, president of European Milk Board, had asked the Minister for Agriculture to meet with them. « This request was rejected which shows only too clearly that the policy-makers prefer to enhance the fierce competition amongst producers in Europe” says Willem Smeenk, board member of the EMB. His colleague Anton Sidler adds: “They try to distract from the real causes of the milk crisis that the European producers have to endure. They claim that French milk producers are not capable of competing on the dairy market.”
When teargas was thrown into the crowd, several demonstrators, worn down my promises that were not kept and despair, turned against the stalls of certain organisations that they make responsible for their troubles. The EMB and its member organisations (APLI and OPL) have always urged demonstrators not to harm other people and goods.
As it was obvious that tensions would arise at the SPACE, the French member organisations of the EMB warned the French minister for agriculture of the risks and called for a dialogue. Their appeal was apparently ignored.
Contact:
Romuald Schaber (DE): 0049/1603524703
Anton Sidler (FR/DE): 0033/6082 619 27
Willem Smeenk (NL/FR/EN): 0033/553366131
Links in French:
http://videos.tf1.fr/jt-20h/le-20-heures-du-14-septembre-2010-6067562.html
<link en external-link-new-window external link in new>The pictures of the event
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