On Monday 30 March, the agriculture ministers of a dozen EU Member States called for the European Commission - unsuccessfully, at this stage - to implement support and market measures for dairy producers, who are facing a difficult situation (see EUROPE 13836/10).
Slovakia, supported notably by Italy in a note, and Belgium, backed in particular by Hungary in a separate note, have recommended a programme of voluntary production cuts to boost milk prices, as well as market measures and support for producers in distress.
Poland and Romania supported the adoption of EU-wide measures, as did Spain and the Baltic States.
Italy has requested the activation of a European support programme for voluntary production reduction in order to stabilise prices in the short term. Minister Francesco Lollobrigida also advocated in favour of market measures, particularly for cheese products. He called for promotional efforts and targeted support for the most vulnerable farms, including debt measures such as moratoria.
Croatia opposed a production reduction programme (arguing instead for revising intervention prices), while Germany felt that the market was normalising and that no market intervention was warranted.
The European Commission gave assurances that it will remain highly vigilant with regard to market developments, and says it is ready to take action should the situation require it.
Link to the Italian and Slovak note: https://aeur.eu/f/lea
Link to the Belgian note: https://aeur.eu/f/leb (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)