Robert Sturdy

PRESS RELEASE

20 October 2009

MEP Robert Sturdy has promised to challenge any attempts to bring back huge EU cash subsidies to the crisis hit dairy sector.

As the European Commission announced £255 million in aid is to be given to European dairy farmers to help the sector cope with the recent slide in milk prices, East Anglian MEP Robert Sturdy has reiterated that now is not the time for a return to the days of huge EU subsidies.

The EU dairy sector has already received large amounts of support from the European Commission who have offered national governments the option to pay farmers up to £13,800 under a “temporary crisis framework.”

But a majority of EU member states, led by France and Germany, want to see the reinstatement of subsidies to cope with the sector’s problems.

Mr Sturdy, a member of the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee, said:

“We must be careful that the recent promises of support for EU dairy farmers do not lead us back to the bad old days of inefficient over-production at the expense of our region’s taxpayers and consumers.

“While I sympathise with the plight of dairy farmers, milk prices are showing signs of recovery and we might well be over the worst of the crisis.

“Europe’s dairy farmers should be preparing for a future quota free milk sector, not calling for short term fixes that will ultimately lead to more problems for them in the long term.

“I want to see a viable and competitive European dairy sector, one that can stand on its on two feet, taking advantage of the opportunities offered by a free global market.”