Plan to cut milk intervention support prices slated

CO-OP umbrella group ICOS has described reported EC proposals to cut intervention support prices for milk by 25% between 2004 and 2008 as unacceptable and a clear breach of the Agenda 2000 Agreement.

It said a leaked version of Farm Commissioner Franz Fischler’s mid-term review proposals, due to be published early in the new year, is much more damaging than had been expected and must be strongly opposed by Agriculture Minister Joe Walsh.

ICOS president Dessie Boylan said it was unacceptable to increase the milk price cut agreed in the Agenda 2000 Agreement from 15% to 25%.