The expected impact of 'Agenda 2000' on the Polish market of milk

摘要

The aim of this report is to present the possible effects that Poland's accession to the European Union may have for Polish producers and consumers of milk. Principles regulating the EU milk market differ from those applied in Poland. When Polish producers come under the Common Agricultural Policy the form and scope of instruments used on the milk market are going to change. The production of milk on the EU market is subject to quantitative restrictions (milk quotas) and quality requirements. The milk purchasing prices in the European Union are higher than in Poland, hence Polish producers may benefit, too, owing to the introduction of higher prices. However, increased purchasing price will also mean higher retail prices. The reform of the milk market announced in the "Agenda 2000" document provides for the reduction of prices in three stages (in the years 2005--2007) and the introduction of compensation payments for every tonne of produced milk (within milk quotas), which is also significant forPoland. The report describes the expected financial results of the introduction of the Common Agricultural Policy principles onto the Polish milk market in 2003, and the possible financial effects of the milk sector's reform from the year 2005 on. To accelerate the processes of concentration of production of milk (indispensable to reduce the cost of production and improve its quality) proposals have been presented of an assistance programme that would help farms owning a small number of cows to withdraw from the production of milk.