Aid Package Not Enough for Farmers, Say MEPs
17 Sep 2015 --- The European Commission's €500 million aid package revealed last week is a step in the right direction but it might be not enough to get farmers struggling with falling prices back on their feet, many MEPs told Commissioner Phil Hogan in a debate on Wednesday.
Commenting on the content of the aid package outlined by Commissioner Hogan and the outcome of the informal Agriculture Council on Monday, many MEPs called for new market measures to tackle price volatility and further support for farmers to find new foreign outlets.
Several MEPs blamed market-oriented policies for the current crisis and called for tools to manage supply, particularly when it comes to the milk sector, while others insisted on structural reforms that would simplify the Common Agricultural Policy and boost the competitiveness of EU farmers on the world market. Some also called for €900 million raised from former “super levy” fines paid by farmers who exceeded their quotas under the quota scheme abolished in April 2015.
Last week saw nearly 6,000 dairy farmers from around Europe take to the street of Brussels in protest at the crisis, a move which, in part, prompted the emergency committee to agree on an aid package.
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