Farmers' organizations: Europe has a duty to support dairy producers

Yesterday, November 4, the leaders of non-governmental organizations of farmers from the Baltic States and Finland sent a jointly signed letter to the new European Union Commissioner for Agriculture, Phil Hogan, calling on him to delay no longer and urgently decide on support for dairy producers.

Juris Lazdins, Chairman of the Association "Farmers' Council": "This week marks exactly 3 months since the Russian Federation imposed a food embargo. During this time, milk purchase prices have fallen by 25% and most farmers are working below cost, which is not a long-term farming model. Farmers must always comply with all European rules, but in a situation where farmers need European support, we are being isolated and no one is going to keep their promises. This letter is a reminder of the promises, and we expect swift action from the new European Union Commissioner for Agriculture, Phil Hogan, so that farms can remain operational in these difficult milk crisis conditions."

Indulis Jansons, Chairman of the Board of the Latvian Association of Agricultural Cooperatives: "The European Union's decision on sanctions against Russia was, of course, necessary, but it is also important to take joint responsibility for the consequences of this decision. The biggest victims of Russia's response to sanctions are currently the milk producers on the EU's eastern border, and Europe cannot leave these countries alone now, we expect solidarity in compensating for the losses. The dairy industry is currently teetering on the edge of existence or non-existence, and a longer delay in providing support is unacceptable."

Agita Hauka, Chairwoman of the Board of the Latvian Farmers' Federation"The European Commission has still not taken action to provide support for maintaining the production and competitiveness of EU farmers, even though the EC's political decision is currently being paid for by farmers who have been severely affected by the Russian embargo. Instead, it is claimed that the CAP risk fund is intended for agricultural crises, but this is an economic crisis and farmers in each country must solve this situation themselves. Latvian farmers have always fought on their own, but this time it is not enough - to preserve dairy farms, financial support is needed not only from the state, but also from the European Commission until the price of raw milk on the market stabilizes."

Edgars Treibergs, Chairman of the Board of the Farmers' Organizations Cooperation Council (LOSP):"The European Commission must make decisions and take concrete action to provide the promised support to the dairy industry to compensate for losses. If the Baltic States are in the united family of EU countries, then the EU must also show solidarity with all member states, because we are still in an unequal situation, receiving the lowest direct payments, and even now, when deciding on the granting of compensation, the issue is being delayed. This is not a normal situation and it is not fair to Baltic farmers."

From Latvia, the letter was signed by Juris Lazdiņš, Chairman of the Association "Farmers' Council", Indulis Jansons, Chairman of the Latvian Association of Agricultural Cooperatives, Agita Hauka, Chairman of the Board of the Latvian Farmers' Federation, Aija Balode, Chairman of the Board of the Association of Agricultural Statutory Companies, and Edgars Treibergs, Chairman of the Board of the Cooperation Council of Farmers' Organizations.

So far, Latvian milk producers have only received promises. In mid-September, the European Union Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dačan Čiološ, during his visit to Latvia, promised to find an opportunity to provide support to dairy farmers. Also, in mid-October, the European Union Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers in Luxembourg considered this issue and most EU member states expressed solidarity with the request of the Baltic countries and Finland to compensate for the losses suffered by dairy farmers. However, the necessary measures to resolve the issue have still not been taken and dairy producers are close to despair.

LETTER