Dairy farmers from across Europe moved closer to a unified stance on the future of milk quotas at a meeting hosted by the NFU yesterday
The talks brought together organisations from Germany, France, Ireland, Finland, Denmark, Holland and Austria as well as the Ulster Farmers Union and NFU Scotland. Representatives reached broad agreement on the need for stable milk prices, support for marginal production areas and that a decision on quotas must be made as part of the CAP Health Check
NFU dairy board chairman Gwyn Jones, who is vice-chairman of COPA/COGECA's milk working group, said: "It is important that EU dairy farmers seek to unite on the future of such an important issue as the EU dairy regime.
"There are some understandable differences between those organisations that favour greater liberalisation and those that fear the possible impact of the ending of milk quotas on their industry. By discussing the issues we can all show mutual respect and help arrive at a common understanding."
