France has urged Europe's agriculture ministers to give a "clear message" of support for dairy farmers at a special summit on Monday, after Brussels played down the prospect of the session reaching any decisions.

French agriculture minister Bruno Le Maire said farmers, who have suspended deliveries and dumped millions of litres of milk in protest at low prices, were waiting for a "clear political signal" of European Commission support for reforms.

"What matters is that the message we give on Monday is clear," he said.

Earlier, Mariann Fischer Boel, the EU agriculture commissioner, had downplayed hopes for the summit's outcome, saying decisions would be made at a long-scheduled meeting on October 19.

Farmers last week suspended their protests in hopes for the October 5 session, threatening to renew demonstrations if they were dissatisfied with its outcome, according to the European Milk Board, which represents about 140,000 farmers.

'Crisis in Europe' 

Monday's meeting was called by Sweden, which currently holds EU presidency, because of the "crisis in Europe on the [dairy] market".

Besides dairy support measures, including the potential for milk futures trading, proposed by Ms Fischer Boel, the meeting is expected to discuss French ideas including the consolidation of farmer groups to increase their negotiating muscle with the dairy industry.

France also wants regulation to protect farmers against price volatility and, ultimately, the replacement of Europe's current farm regime, the Common Agricultural Policy, with rules covering both food and agriculture industries.