Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic stated on Thursday that the government will introduce special levies on milk.
The reason is that “domestic producers cannot cope with the tough competition after the complete opening of the Serbian market for milk imports.”
Vucic accused former governments of having failed to secure good conditions for Serbia in the negotiations on the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) that stipulated the complete opening of the market for milk as of 2015.
The government adheres to what the former ministers signed, but it was forced to earmark the budget funds, ensured through spending cuts, to assist farmers- the sum now stands at RSD 500 million, Vucic said.
Since the beginning of 2015, Serbian milk producers have been facing difficulties because of increased milk imports from the EU, at lower prices, with which domestic farmers cannot compete.
In the period from January 1 to May 1, 2015, around 2,700 tons of milk, powdered milk and various cheeses were imported to Serbia, which is two times more than the quantity imported in the same period last year, show the data of the Customs Administration.
According to the data of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, six to seven times more soured milk drinks were imported in the country this year than in 2014.
Speaking for B92, Agriculture Minister Snezana Bogosavljevic-Boskovic announced the same measures, saying that the prime minister and the government “intend to defend the milk sector at any price.”
She added she “did not expect any counter-measures from Brussels,” and that, as has been the case with protective measures in the past, “everything will be in agreement with Brussels.”
Source; B92
