France to put pressure on Phil Hogan to cut EU milk production

French pressure on EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan to start paying dairy farmers to voluntarily reduce milk production is expected next week.

After no relief measures for struggling farmers emerged at last Monday’s meeting of EU agriculture ministers — despite French President Francois Hollande calling for decisions to help his country’s agriculture — Mr Hogan agreed to go to Paris on February 25 to meet French Prime Minister Manuel Valls andAgriculture Minister Stéphane Le Foll, to hear French proposals.

On Monday, Mr Hogan acknowledged a shared understanding in the EU Council of Ministers that there is a crisis in a number of sectors, notably dairy and pigmeat.