Furious farmers block Brussels streets

Thousands of European farmers took to the streets of Brussels on Monday to protest against plummeting prices for their produce.

Mainly Belgian, French and German farmers blocked streets with tractors and set off fireworks to demand emergency EU funds.

The protest targeted the European Union headquarters, where agriculture ministers were due to meet. Milk producers have been particularly hard hit after deregulation this year.

A number of factors - including changing dietary habits, slowing demand from China and a Russian embargo on Western food products - have hit prices for beef, pork and milk.

"Europe is drowning in milk," read banners held by farmers representing the European Milk Board. Environment secretary Liz Truss, who will represent the UK at Monday's meeting, will call for the creation of a dairy futures market, similar to those for grain and sugar.

The government said such a move would help give the UK's dairy farmers more certainty over future prices.

Last month farming leaders and ministers held talks on the future of dairy farming in the UK following protests over milk prices.

France's agriculture minister has estimated that about 22,000 farms – 10 percent of the total - face bankruptcy and owe about €1 billion in total.

Ministers will discuss the state of the EU's agriculture markets on Monday, with milk prices a particular priority, as well as the impact of the Russian sanctions.

In July, the EU extended until next year a multi-million-euro aid package to help European farmers hit by the Russian ban.