NI MEP Jim Nicholson Calls for Stronger Dairy Safety Nets in EP Report
The Armagh MEP, with a strong dairy background, has released his 11-page draft own-initiative report on the “Prospects for the EU dairy sector – review of the implementation of the dairy package”.
The document seeks to assess the support measures of the dairy package and recommends solutions to address market volatility. Nicholson has called on the Commission to implement more “responsive and realistic” safety net measures and review the rate of intervention to be “more reflective of production costs and adapted as the market changes”.
In line with developments advocated by ICOS, and seen in many Irish co-operatives, Nicholson would like to see the sector explore “longer-term integrated supply chain contracts”, fixed margin contracts and the “opportunity to ‘lock-in’ a milk price for a set period of time”.
Nicholson highlights the future opportunities for the European Dairy Sector with the positive prospects on the domestic and global markets.
The report will be presented at the next COMAGRI meeting on 23rd-24th March and MEPs from the COMAGRI will have until 30th March to submit their amendments. The COMAGRI vote is expected to be held on 5th May.
You can read the full report here: