The scheme to reduce or stabilise milk production has already reached 99% of the total quantities planned, according to figures published by the European Commission on Tuesday 27 September.
The first call, which ended on 21 September, saw 1.07 million tonnes reserved (99%), leaving only 11,407 tonnes for the next reduction period, until 12 October.
All countries, with the exception of Greece, contributed to the scheme. Germany is the largest contributor, with 286,049 tonnes, followed by France (181,398 tonnes), the United Kingdom (112,028 tonnes), the Netherlands (80,305 tonnes) and Ireland (74,225 tonnes).
Germany is likely to receive €40.04 million from the total EU budget, ahead of France (€25.39 million), the United Kingdom (€15.68 million), the Netherlands (€11.24 million) and Ireland (€10.39 million).
A total of 52,101 farmers undertook to cut production. France had the largest number of applicants (12,957, or 25% of the total), followed by Germany (9,947), Ireland (4,447) and the Netherlands (3,932). The number of applicants from the United Kingdom was low (1,849).
French farmers will receive on average €1,960 from the EU budget, plus €70 from the national purse (that is, a total of €2,030 per farm on average). German farmers will receive an average of €4,060 (through EU funding), and Irish farmers will receive an average payment of €2,380 per farm (exclusively through EU funding). Dutch farmers will receive €2,800 per farm on average (EU funding). Only very few UK farmers applied to the scheme but they will receive an average of €8,540 per farm (from EU funding).
“These initial figures demonstrate clearly that regulation of milk production, by means of this reduction mechanism in times of crisis, works”, commented MEP Michel Dantin (EPP, France). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)