Spain is likely to ask EU agriculture ministers next week for more access to intervention rye stocks to help boost low domestic stocks and help cattle breeders faced with high feed prices, officials said today.
Spain made a similar request in November, asking for four million tonnes of German rye to be put on the market.
The request was rejected, although the European Commission said at the time that it would continue disposing of EU rye stocks.
"Several times, the Spanish have asked for action to deal with high cereals prices, especially in the feed market," one EU diplomat said.
"In the past, they've asked for more release of cereals from northern Europe - but there's been a disagreement between Spain and the Commission as to how bad the situation actually is."
The EU's 15 agriculture ministers are due to meet on Tuesday, their first formal gathering of 2004 after last month's meeting was cancelled by current EU president Ireland .