EU farmers rally against collapse of milk prices
Güncelleme Tarihi:
The Associated Press
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mayıs 27, 2009 00:00
BRUSSELS - Dairy farmers created traffic chaos in Berlin, blocked milk-processing plants in France and protested at EU headquarters in Brussels on Monday, seeking more aid to stay in business as milk prices plummet.
EU farm ministers later decided to allow member states to bring forward the payment of 70 percent of direct aid to farmers from December to mid-October, hoping it will alleviate the financial difficulties.
Farmers, though, have been calling for more drastic measures. They say they have been forced to sell milk below cost because prices have fallen by up to 50 percent over the past year.
Earlier Monday, some 6,000 farmers with 700 tractors clogged roads in the German capital, irritating commuters and bringing traffic in some areas to a halt. In response, the German government promised to provide cheaper diesel oil for farmers.
At EU headquarters, some 1,000 farmers from half a dozen nations protested with tractors and cows in tow to press their demands for more funds. Police intervened when a few farmers sought to break through the EU's security perimeter.
"(We) demand a fair price for our milk, which covers at least our production cost and some profit margin," said Eddie Chinon, a French dairy farmer.
"Our dairy sector is in an unprecedented difficult situation," said EU Farm Commissioner Mariann Fischer-Boel. "It makes it difficult for a lot of dairy producers when production prices are higher than the prices at which they sell." In France, more than 80 processing plants were closed off Monday by angry farmers.
Farmers, though, have been calling for more drastic measures. They say they have been forced to sell milk below cost because prices have fallen by up to 50 percent over the past year.
Earlier Monday, some 6,000 farmers with 700 tractors clogged roads in the German capital, irritating commuters and bringing traffic in some areas to a halt. In response, the German government promised to provide cheaper diesel oil for farmers.
At EU headquarters, some 1,000 farmers from half a dozen nations protested with tractors and cows in tow to press their demands for more funds. Police intervened when a few farmers sought to break through the EU's security perimeter.
"(We) demand a fair price for our milk, which covers at least our production cost and some profit margin," said Eddie Chinon, a French dairy farmer.
"Our dairy sector is in an unprecedented difficult situation," said EU Farm Commissioner Mariann Fischer-Boel. "It makes it difficult for a lot of dairy producers when production prices are higher than the prices at which they sell." In France, more than 80 processing plants were closed off Monday by angry farmers.