Commission forced to act after admitting Russia trade ban is biting
It announced emergency market support measures to alleviate the impact of Russian restrictions on imports of EU dairy products and to curb the ill effects on the internal market. These will focus on milk powder, butter and exported cheeses. Further measures will be taken if needed.
The commission announced it would open private storage aid for butter, skimmed milk powder (SMP) and certain cheeses.
It also confirmed the period for public intervention of butter and SMP would be extended until the end of the year. EU dairy exports to Russia last year were worth €2.3bn, notably in the form of cheese (€1bn.)
EU Agriculture and Rural Development Commissioner Dacian Ciolo noted that export earnings were being lost in a number of EU member states and new outlets needed to be found.
He said he would present a first full analysis of the short and medium-term impact of this Russian ban on all major European agri-food sectors, together with an overview of the policy options, to member states and the European Parliament shortly.
“Again, my message to EU producers is clear: Where material risks of market destabilisation appear, I will continue to use the new CAP to act pre-emptively to stabilise the market.”
These measures are in addition to emergency market support measures for peaches and nectarines on August 11 (worth €32.7m) and perishable fruits and vegetables (€125m) on August 25.
