AlQa'dah 02, 1435, August 28, 2014, SPA -- The European Union is taking emergency measures to help dairy producers hit by a Russian ban on the bloc's agricultural exports, its executive announced Thursday, following similar aid for fruit and vegetable growers, dpa reported. Moscow banned EU food imports earlier this month, in response to EU economic sanctions imposed on Russia following the deadly downing of an airliner over eastern Ukraine in July, allegedly by pro-Russian rebels. EU dairy exports to Russia were worth 2.3 billion euros (3 billion dollars) in 2013, with cheese accounting for almost half of that, according to the European Commission. "Price signals on the European dairy market show that the Russian ban is starting to hit this sector," said EU Agriculture Commissioner Dacian Ciolos, adding that dairy producers need "time and help to adapt" to the restrictions.
