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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Protests outside EU milk meeting | Protests outside EU milk meeting |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Hundreds of farmers are protesting in Brussels to put pressure on European Union (EU) agriculture ministers meeting to discuss low milk prices. | Hundreds of farmers are protesting in Brussels to put pressure on European Union (EU) agriculture ministers meeting to discuss low milk prices. |
| The talks come after weeks of protests across Europe, with farmers dumping milk stocks and withholding supplies at what they see as uneconomic prices. | The talks come after weeks of protests across Europe, with farmers dumping milk stocks and withholding supplies at what they see as uneconomic prices. |
| The problem in the European milk market is that supply exceeds demand, so prices have fallen sharply. | The problem in the European milk market is that supply exceeds demand, so prices have fallen sharply. |
| France and Germany have led calls for the EU to give farmers emergency funds. | France and Germany have led calls for the EU to give farmers emergency funds. |
| Farmers say their current production costs are more than twice the price they get for their milk. | Farmers say their current production costs are more than twice the price they get for their milk. |
| They insist that the EU must tighten milk quotas to drive up prices, rather than sticking to the current commitment to end all quotas by 2015 and move price control wholly over to the market. | They insist that the EU must tighten milk quotas to drive up prices, rather than sticking to the current commitment to end all quotas by 2015 and move price control wholly over to the market. |
| A spokeswoman for the UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the department would not be making a comment until the meeting was over. | A spokeswoman for the UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the department would not be making a comment until the meeting was over. |
| Funding issue | Funding issue |
| Amid a heavy police presence, farmers are protesting outside the main EU Council building where the meeting is being held. | Amid a heavy police presence, farmers are protesting outside the main EU Council building where the meeting is being held. |
| Many have been clanging cow bells, while some have poured milk onto the pavements, and others have brought some of their dairy cows with them. | Many have been clanging cow bells, while some have poured milk onto the pavements, and others have brought some of their dairy cows with them. |
| Dairy farmers want to see tighter quotas to lift prices | Dairy farmers want to see tighter quotas to lift prices |
| Led by France and Germany, ministers from about 20 of the 27 EU member states met ahead of the official meeting. | Led by France and Germany, ministers from about 20 of the 27 EU member states met ahead of the official meeting. |
| In a joint statement, they demanded that the EU Commission come up with funds to relieve dairy farmers' immediate needs. | In a joint statement, they demanded that the EU Commission come up with funds to relieve dairy farmers' immediate needs. |
| EU Farm Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel said additional funds could only be provided if member states provided it, and the money did not come from the existing EU budget. | EU Farm Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel said additional funds could only be provided if member states provided it, and the money did not come from the existing EU budget. |
| Swedish Agriculture Minister Eskil Erlandsson, who is chairing the meeting, said it would "talk about the medium and long-term possibilities for the European milk and dairy sector". | Swedish Agriculture Minister Eskil Erlandsson, who is chairing the meeting, said it would "talk about the medium and long-term possibilities for the European milk and dairy sector". |
| However, he said any decisions would take at least two more weeks to be fully approved. | However, he said any decisions would take at least two more weeks to be fully approved. |
| Mr Erlandsson said a key problem was that while farmers have seen the prices they receive for their milk decline by 40%, prices in the shops have only fallen between 1% and 2%. | Mr Erlandsson said a key problem was that while farmers have seen the prices they receive for their milk decline by 40%, prices in the shops have only fallen between 1% and 2%. |
| Across its 27 member nations, the EU pays the agriculture sector 55bn euros ($80bn; £50bn) annually for support payments, storage aid, rural development, and other projects. | Across its 27 member nations, the EU pays the agriculture sector 55bn euros ($80bn; £50bn) annually for support payments, storage aid, rural development, and other projects. |
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