SPPK: Ten EU Countries Urge EC to Provide Immediate Aid to Dairy Producers

Bratislava, 26 June (TASR) - Along with agricultural organisations from nine other EU member states, the Slovak Agriculture and Food Chamber (SPPK) has called on European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen to take immediate action to address the deepening crisis in the dairy sector, said SPPK spokeswoman Jana Holeciova. She added that the joint initiative originated as part of cooperation among Czech agricultural organisations and gradually gained the backing of farmers from Central and Eastern Europe. Holeciova noted dairy producers across Europe are facing a sharp decline in farmgate milk prices, with production costs remaining high, especially energy, fuel and fertiliser costs. Many farms have reached a point where milk production is not economically viable. "The situation in the milk market is no longer a problem of a single country. It's a Europe-wide crisis that requires a joint and swift response. If the EC fails to act in time, the consequences will be felt not only by producers, but also by consumers and the entire food security of the EU," said SPPK chair Jozef Sumichrast. In their letter, the signatories called on the EC to activate special market measures, such as releasing funds from the agricultural crisis reserve, supporting private storage of dairy products, favourable short-term loans for farmers, and greater flexibility of member states in providing temporary state aid for extraordinary costs. The EU should also strengthen its strategic stocks of dairy products not only to stabilise the market, but also to build its food security and strategic resilience. "We cannot expect European farmers to guarantee Europe's food security and strategic resilience while they are exposed to unsustainable economic conditions over the long term. The EC must act quickly and decisively," according to the signatories of the joint letter. Holeciova added that the initiative was joined by organisations from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, while it remains open to other signatories from EU member states. jrg/mcs