Brussels, 13/12/2010 (Agence Europe) - In Brussels on Monday, the European agriculture ministers welcomed the proposals of the Commission for the dairy sector (EUROPE 10274). “The Member States welcome these proposals”, said the Belgian Presidency of the EU after the meeting of the Council. “The Commission made legislative proposals with objectives such as allowing farmers greater powers of negotiation than they have at the moment, in full respect of the Treaty, competition rules and WTO rules”, said Sabine Laruelle, the Belgian agriculture minister. “The majority of the delegations welcomed this step forward, which will allow farmers to negotiate a price, quantity and lead time” with the major distributors, she added. She explained, however, that reflection is still required on percentage issues, as the smallest countries state that the volume of “3.5% (of the EU market) is not so easy” to achieve and that given their low levels of production, they should be able to exceed the 33% production of the member state. The ministers also reiterated the need to increase the transparency of price-setting and some member states stressed the importance of approaching the end of milk quotas fairly gently. The French agriculture minister described the proposals of the Commission for the dairy sector as a “revolution” for France and for Europe, as they will allow farmers to get together to negotiate prices. He pointed out that these proposals provide for “changes to European competition law to allow French producers to organise themselves better to deal with the industrial sector and the retail distribution sector”. In France, “one third of milk producers” will be able to join forces to negotiate prices collectively, which they cannot do today, unless they join cooperatives, Le Maire stressed. Over lunch, ministers discussed the notion of “active farmers”. All member states stressed the need to show “flexibility” to take account of all situations, Laruelle stated. (B.C./O.L./trans.fl)