Brussels turns down dairy farmers’ plea

There will be no EU subsidies for struggling German dairy farmers. That is the decision by Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel who has turned down a German proposal for a fund to help out dairy producers.

“I cannot agree to such a fund because there is no money available for it,” she said. “There are no new funds for agriculture.”

She went on to say she was aware of the difficulties they faced, but that it was best to use the tools already available rather than create new ones.

Tens of thousands of German dairy farmers went on strike last month to protest against prices they said were too low to make a living. Germany’s agriculture minister has said he will not give up the fight.

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