Call for farmers to mobilize on October 19th during the next meeting of the Agricultural Counci

Dairy Crisis: Call for producers to mobilize on October 19th during the next meeting of the Agricultural Council After the Council meeting on October 5th, European producers know that they will not obtain any significant modification of the current dairy policy if they do not mobilize in order to maintain a sense solidarity with consumers and make the Council and the Commission change their positions. The European Coordination Via Campesina thus calls milk producers and all farmers to undertake significant actions in their regions on October 19th, during the meeting of the ministers in Luxembourg. It also invites organizations to demonstrate on October 19th in the afternoon in front of the Council in Luxembourg. Given the responsibility of governments, the milk industry and the large retailing sector in the current crisis, the most pertinent actions will be selected at the regional or local level. This dairy crisis in fact concerns all agricultural products and producers, because the result of how it plays out will play a big role in the debate and the decisions on the CAP after 2013. Our demands are simple and common sense: - We do not want to sell our milk at a loss any more, a loss which profits only the upstream and downstream sectors: we need fair prices, which cover our production costs and our work, - For this, supply management of European production is essential: the current quota is much higher than market demand and it should be reduced to adjust to the current demand - saving small producers. It is necessary to maintain and improve this tool for regulating production. - In order to answer the multiple challenges of unemployment, the environment, climate change and the territorial balances of the EU, production must be better distributed and sustainable family dairy production which is more autonomous saves on inputs should be quickly developed. - in order to achieve legitimacy for EU dairy policy at an international level, it is necessary to stop export subsidies and to cease importing soya which is subsequently processed into dried milk for export. - To respect both producers and the consumers, the EU must impose transparency of prices in the food chain, and a limitation of margins. For further information on our proposals, consult www.eurovia.org Contacts : Lidia Senra (PT/ES/FR) + 34 609 84 5861- René Louail (FR) + 33 6 7284 8792 Gérard Choplin , ECVC office in Brussels (FR/EN/DE) +32473257378