Special Report: Have the management instruments applied to the market in milk and milk products achieved their main objectives?

Milk production is of major importance in the European Union’s agricultural economy. More than one million producers supply 148 million tonnes of milk annually with an approximate value of 41 000 million euro at the farm gate. The milk processing sector (producing mainly cheese, butter and drinking milk) employs around 400 000 people and generates a turnover of 120 000 million euro. In this Special Report the European Court of Auditors reviewed how effectively the European Commission has managed the market for milk and milk products since the introduction of milk quotas in 1984, with reference to the main objectives of EU dairy policy. The Court also highlighted the most critical issues to be considered in the progressive deregulation of the milk sector, which was started in 2003.