Poland demands EU action on milk exports
PR dla Zagranicy
John Beauchamp
17.07.2012 10:00
Poland has refused to accept the European Commission’s decision not to intervene in the country’s milk market.
Brussels has rejected Poland’s request to introduce export subsidies amid the deteriorating situation in the dairy industry, with many milk-producing farms facing bankruptcy.
The commission justified its refusal explaining that the falling prices of milk are still higher by a third than those recorded during the slump on the Polish market in 2009.
Brussels must not ignore the issue, deputy agricultural minister Andrzej Butra has warned, claiming that similar reluctance to address the issue in the past lay at the core of the setback on the market three years ago.
“The difficult situation is gaining momentum, and other EU members state now also recognise the scale of the problem,” the official stated.
Ten EU countries have pointed to difficulties in the domestic milk industries. Poland’s appeal was supported by countries such as Lithuania, Spain, and Hungary.
The European Commission has stated it would be monitoring the situation on the market until new talks are underway in September. (aba/jb)