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| EU ministers discussing milk row | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Hundreds of farmers have driven tractors into Brussels to put pressure on European Union 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 want more export subsidies to help lift prices. | France and Germany want more export subsidies to help lift prices. |
| However, the UK and other countries are said to oppose the idea. | However, the UK and other countries are said to oppose the idea. |
| A spokeswoman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the department would not be making a comment until the meeting was over. | |
| 'Discussing possibilities' | 'Discussing possibilities' |
| 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. |
| Farmers from across Germany, France and other nations are protesting outside the main EU Council building ahead of the meeting. | Farmers from across Germany, France and other nations are protesting outside the main EU Council building ahead of the meeting. |
| They argue that current production costs are more than twice the price they get for their milk. | They argue that current production costs are more than twice the price they get for their milk. |
| 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. |