In a joint declaration, 16 countries argue that a new European milk regulation is necessary to complement a phase-out of milk quotas between 2010 and 2015 so that farmers are not left at the mercy of the market.
The Franco-German initiative for more EU action to protect dairy farmers is supported by Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.
It suggests temporarily increasing the minimum EU intervention price at which the EU would commit to buying surpluses from farmers. It also proposes that national governments help farmers more without asking for the green light from Brussels.
Going further, the countries suggest setting a minimum price for milk at national level between producers and industry.
French Farm Minister Bruno Le Maire noted that this type of "contractualisation" at EU level between producers of agricultural commodities and industry was not currently possible.
However, he believed that France and Germany are starting to shake the conventional parameters and that contractualisation would be something that could be done in the "months to come".
Indeed, he believes that contractualisation is the "way forward" for the whole agricultural sector, and not just for milk.
Le Maire insisted that more regulation is the only way to guarantee a reliable and steady income for farmers, and consequently ensure food security in Europe.
In a complementary declaration, Germany, Austria, France, Hungary, Portugal and Slovakia asked the Commission to temporarily suspend the planned phase-out of milk quotas. But the Commission has repeatedly refused to reconsider the issue.
