European Commission: A Catalyst for the Dairy Industry

The European Commission, headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, serves as a pivotal institution within the European Union, exerting considerable influence over the dairy market through strategic policy implementation and financial support.

Financial Indicators

In 2023, the Commission reinforced its commitment to the dairy sector by allocating €2.56 million to essential infrastructure projects, covering 80% of the total project costs. This investment underscores the Commission's dedication to sustainability and the expansion of the industry.

Significant Events

One notable event was the Commission's response to an outbreak near Berlin, where a regionalization strategy was employed to mitigate impacts. On October 24, 2025, the Commission approved the merger between FrieslandCampina and Milcobel, facilitating industry consolidation without significantly reducing competition.

Historically, the Commission introduced the Voluntary Milk Supply Reduction Scheme in 2016 to address market pressures following the abolition of milk quotas. Additionally, the Livestock Strategy and Protein Action Plan were launched to promote resilience, competitiveness, and sustainability in Europe's livestock sectors.

Future Plans

The European Commission is focused on enhancing agricultural resilience and sustainability, aligning with the European Green Deal and digital strategies. Key aspects of its plans include collaborations with Greek and Romanian authorities, tariffs on Russian and Belarusian agricultural products, and ensuring compliance with Ireland's nitrates derogation.

The Commission predicts a 39% increase in overall EU exports, with agri-food exports potentially rising by nearly 50%, supported by the EU-MERCOSUR trade deal, expected to contribute €77.6 billion to the EU's GDP. Efforts to address risks from the H5N1 genotype virus are backed by measures from the European Food Safety Authority, with an €18.2 million state aid package.

Moreover, the Commission aims to simplify the regulatory framework, reducing the administrative burden on livestock producers. It is engaging in stakeholder consultations for the revised Nitrates Directive. Negotiations with the United States aim to remove tariffs, including a 15% tariff affecting European products.

The short-term market outlook anticipates a 1.6% increase in EU milk production by 2026. By the end of the year, both the European Commission and Rabobank foresee processing industries attempting to pass on some logistical and transportation costs to retailers.

Furthermore, the Commission plans to host an EU Pavilion at an upcoming event to promote European food and beverages and foster connections between suppliers and Indian buyers. Additionally, the European Commission’s Milk Market Observatory regularly publishes its weekly dairy commodity report, covering benchmark prices for key dairy products in the European Union.

The European Commission commented on the trade agreement with Mexico, stating that it would not change the agreement terms and noted US actions against European cheese protections. It has also provided preliminary figures for the EU's average raw-milk price, reporting a 0.40% monthly increase in average milk prices.

The European Commission said an EU-Philippines trade agreement would liberalise more than 94% of tariff lines, allowing negotiations to move towards a final conclusion in the coming months. The European Commission estimated future raw milk prices, with the Milk Market Observatory reporting on raw milk prices and estimating a further decline to 42.3 cents in June.

Involved in discussions on recyclability labels, the European Commission coordinated discussions with Danone on changing recyclability labels on plastic bottles. According to the European Commission’s latest agri-food trade monitor, the value of EU dairy imports declined by 19% while exports increased by 2% in January–July 2026. The Commission linked the decline to the elevated imports recorded in 2025 and noted the increase in exports classified as 'other animal products'.

EU farm-gate milk prices fell 19.7% year on year in August 2026, according to European Commission figures. Market data from the European Commission reported a fall in prices received by EU milk producers. Provided assessment of industrial feed costs. The European Commission’s assessment used a combination of cereals and oilseeds to evaluate industrial feed costs, which have been increasing since November 2025.

Alerts were prompted at the European Commission due to cybersecurity weaknesses. The European Commission was involved in addressing the cyberattacks affecting the retail cold chain.