EU farmers warn of a ‘worrying situation’

European farmers and co-ops have warned of “a seriously worrying situation” in the milk and pigmeat sectors.

Their umbrella body, Copa Cogeca, told EU farm ministers in Brussels earlier this week that the situation is aggravated by the import restrictions imposed by the Russian Federation on EU farm exports.

Russia imposed a ban on certain food imports from the US, the EU and other countries last August in retaliation for Western sanctions on the Federation over the Ukraine crisis. Last month, President Vladimir Putin announced an extension of Russia’s ban for a further year to August 2016.