Brussels, March 14th, 2011:
On March 15th, 2011, James Nicholson, Member of the European Parliament, will present his report on the European Commission’s milk package to the European Parliament Agricultural Committee. Both the European Coordination Via Campesina and the European Milk Board wish to point out most emphatically that neither the milk package itself nor the amendments outlined in the Nicholson draft report are even remotely suitable for achieving a better functioning milk market with fair prices for producers.
In the view of both European organisations, the active commitment of the EU’s political authorities is essential for shaping and implementing the instruments of EU dairy policy.
Ultimately, the aim of any measures has to be to avoid future market distortions, while enabling milk producers to enjoy a market price that covers their production costs. An effective supply management for the entire market is essential for achieving these goals. Further important goals of European policy that have to be achieved are transparency and a fair distribution of profit margins within the value chain.
Contracts between producers and processors may only be legally acceptable if they at least take into account the average cost of milk production in the EU.
Contacts:
EMB :
Romuald Schaber (DE) : + 49 1603524703
Sonja Korspeter (DE,FR,EN) + 49 1786021685
Silvia Däberitz (DE, EN, ES) + 49 17638098500
ECVC :
Isabel Vilalba (ES,EN) + 34 608905444
Josian Palach (FR) + 33 671344902
Xavier Delwarte (FR,EN) + 32 476 423902
Gérard Choplin (FR,EN,DE) + 32 473257378
EMB : Bahnhofstraße 31 59065 Hamm, Germany office@europeanmilkboard.org, tel : +49 23814361200; www.europeanmilkboard.org
ECVC : rue de la Sablonnière 18, 1000 Brussels, Belgium tel : + 32 (0) 22173112 info@eurovia.org; www.eurovia.org
