European Agriculture Ministers Meet Amid Mass Demonstration to Alleviate Crisis

Strategic Insights -

Thousands of European farmers and milk producers, backed by a large number of tractors, blocked Brussels' main streets in a mass demonstration to protest falling food prices and demand EU help. The extraordinary meeting, convened by Luxembourg's presidency, aimed to find solutions to the serious economic crisis affecting the agricultural sector. Agriculture ministers from member states of the European Union gathered to discuss the state of EU's agriculture markets, with milk prices being a particular priority, as well as the impact of the Russian sanctions.

Key Takeaways:

  • The mass demonstration by European farmers and milk producers demanded EU help to alleviate the crisis caused by falling food prices.
  • The meeting aimed to find solutions to the serious economic crisis affecting the agricultural sector, with agriculture ministers from member states of the European Union in attendance.
  • The EU ministers discussed the state of EU's agriculture markets, with milk prices being a particular priority, as well as the impact of the Russian sanctions.
  • Luxembourg's presidency convened the meeting, which was attended by Fernand Etgen, Minister of Agriculture of Luxembourg, who pledged to present a short and medium-term program to give new perspectives to the farmers.
  • Phil Hogan, the EU commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, was unable to attend the meeting due to health problems.
  • EU agricultural producers have claimed that some 6.13 billion U.S. dollars have been lost due to the food embargo against Russia, according to Copa-Cogeca, an EU farm trade union.
  • Media have predicted that new aid for EU dairy producers will be announced.

Statistics:

  • 6.13 billion U.S. dollars: the amount claimed by EU agricultural producers to have been lost due to the food embargo against Russia.
  • 1 year: the initial duration of the Russian food ban imposed on certain food products from EU countries that had introduced sanctions against Russia in August 2014.

Sources:

  • Xinhua via COMTEX
  • [Council of the EU announcement]