Notas de Prensa

17/07/2007

EP Agricultural Committee against disproportional cuts in the milk market sector. Elisabeth Jeggle MEP

The European Parliament's Agricultural Committee has today unanimously voted against disproportional cuts in connection with the reform of the Common Market Organisation for milk and milk products. "The Commission suggests in its draft Directive a standardisation of protein contents in milk and milk products. I endorse this approach to make European producers more competitive against third countries through equal conditions. The proposed reduction of the intervention price threshold may, however, not lead to disadvantages for the European milk sector", said rapporteur Elisabeth Jeggle.

The standardisation of protein content will, according to the Commission, lead to net savings of almost €120m from 2008 until 2013. "These means should then be used to establish a milk fund restructuring programme for sales promotion and to further accompany measures such as nutrition information campaigns", Elisabeth Jeggle continued.

With regard to the abolition of private storekeeping likewise planned by the Commission, the German MEP clearly wants to maintain this safety network. "The school milk Regulation should be continued. This is indispensable in view of increasing obesity and wrong eating habits of children these days. Global aid foreseen by the Commission in the medium term could be even increased and the school milk provision be extended to further products like for instance school fruit", stressed Elisabeth Jeggle. She concluded by pointing out that the measures planned in the framework of this so-called 'mini milk package' serve as a simplification. But the reform package must not be used as a means for further reductions in the EU Agricultural Sector.

Translation from the original German

For further information:
Elisabeth Jeggle MEP, Tel: +32-2-2847351
Knut Goelz, EPP-ED Press Service, Tel: +32-479-972144

Notes to Editors:
The EPP-ED Group is the largest political group in the European Parliament with 278 Members from all 27 Member States.