Cash but no quota cut for struggling milk farmers

16/10/09 16:50 CET

europa

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European dairy farmers will be offered a 300 million euro aid package to help them through a crisis caused by low prices.

A series of strikes and demonstrations by the milk producers in recent months had put pressure on farming ministers to act. But demands for more regulation and lower quotas have so far fallen on deaf ears. Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel says she disagrees with the EU’s financial watchdog, which has criticised the move towards liberalisation of the market. Producers say the gradual lifting of quotas has led to overproduction of milk, which has in turn pushed prices down. However, the Commissioner blames falling demand due to the recession. Agriculture ministers will meet in Luxembourg on Monday to discuss emergency measures.More about: Agriculture, European Union

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Coalition members quit over Greece austerity plan

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