European dairy farmers remain unsatisfied with the fresh swathe of support being proposed by the EU, insisting that the goal of phasing out quotas by 2015 is “not beneficial” to the market.

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In a speech delivered to the European Parliament today (17 September), EU agricultural commissioner Marian Fischer Boel outlined a number of ways that the EU intends to support dairy farmers.


However, she stood firm on the European Commission’s goal of eliminating dairy quotas by 2015.


A spokesperson for the European Milk Board insisted that this goal remains “undesirable” for European milk farmers, who are struggling with milk prices that fail to cover the cost of production.


“Such a decision [to eliminate quotas] could bankrupt our industry because the market is already over-supplied, leading to a situation where milk prices are below the cost of production,” a spokesperson for the farmers’ organisation told just-food.

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According to the EMB, 40,000 farmers in eight countries have stopped milk supplies to dairies in protest at the low prices and European dairy policy.  


EMB vice president Sieta van Keimpen warned that the strike could escalate if political action is not taken.


“The European milk producers are in active contact with one another. 130,000 dairy farmers in 14 countries are all organised in the umbrella association of European milk producers, the European Milk Board. The milk strike has to be expected to spread,” Keimpen said.


The striking farmers are calling for an “immediate” reduction in milk quotas. This, they claim, would enable dairies to pay “cost-covering” prices.