Verbatim report of proceedings

Thursday, 26 May 2016 - Brussels

Measures to address the crisis in the dairy sector (debate)

  Richard Ashworth (ECR). – Madam President, the industry has been caught in the perfect storm, and there are two actions the Commission can take. Short-term we appreciate Commissioner Hogan’s efforts to help the industry through a very deep crisis, although we must acknowledge and accept their resources are limited, and would come nowhere near offsetting the losses incurred by the industry. But longer term, there is a very great deal that we can do. The likelihood is prices do not stay depressed for ever. When we look to the future we must encourage and support the industry to become more productive, more competitive, more resilient. We must help it address market balance and to build new markets. This is not something the state does to industry, it is something the industry has to do to help itself. Only by fixing the roof when the sun is shining can farmers prepare and protect themselves from future crises.