The message to milk buyers and retailers today is that the Great Milk Robbery is unfinished business.French farmers get a €1.65 billion rescue package
FRENCH farmers have been handed a whopping €1.65 billion (£1.5bn) payout to help them deal with the economic downturn.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy last week pledged to muster €1 billion (£900m) in bank loans and €650 million (£600m) in exceptional state aid to support farmers struggling with falling prices and a malfunctioning supply chain.
His announcement comes after angry French farmers joined dairy protests in Brussels and took part in a march on the Champs-Elysees in Paris last month to protest about the state of the industry.
Mr Sarkozy told French reporters he had a moral duty to support his farmers. “Farmers are a part of France’s national identity and the key to a sector that has as much potential for the future as nanotechnologies or aerospace,” he said.
He said the national plan should be in place before the end of the year and called on the EU to match his urgency by introducing financial and regulatory measures to save Europe’s dairy sector from destruction.
Share
Readers' comments (4)
m.smith | 3 November 2009 3:10 pm
its a great pity that our farmers in britain arent helped in such a way ,but our government dont want our farmers to thrive ,our government are more than useless you only have to look at the state of britain to realise that and its no wonder that our farmers are giving up .The government should be encouraging our farmers in every way and encouraging the public to buy british produce but they take the easy option and import produce from abroad putting money into other countrys instead of keeping it in this country and helping our farmers.the public are just as much to blame .
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Bazza Hawkeye | 3 November 2009 4:23 pm
On the day the government gives billions more £'s to the banks, I have to read this. As a country dweller, in the midst of farms, it really makes my blood boil. This sort of thing happens time and again in France. No EU sanctions or anything for helping them out either. No wonder our once proud country is now a shadow of its former self. And Gordon Brown must take the lions share of the blame. Shame on you!
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 10 November 2009 2:04 pm
I agree with these comments, but let's get this in balance, UK farmers still do very well from taxpayers pockets. Vastly more than other industries. Besides I have bone to pick with many farmers who choose buy foreign built 4x4 pickups, foreign tractors and machinery. You expect the consumer to buy British food but it's fine for you not to support UK manufacturing jobs and import foreign built machinery?
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
m w j parker | 19 November 2009 5:26 pm
as a english farmer in france for five years i know i made the right move coming to france because in england the goverment only need farmers in a war and after that to hell with them
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment