That article is about European multinationals, not the EU

At the same time, the EU spends a lot of money on subsidies just so that farms (big and small) can keep their head above water. I wouldn't mind if that was changed somewhat, give smaller farms more survivability, but at the same time it's the market forces that should be changed so that farmers get fairer prices for their products.

And this also hurts Cane sugar producers - sugar beet is much more energy intensive

Weird, since there is already a milk quota in place in Europe.

I don't think it's related to the EU as institution

I just read the quoted headline, but it's not about quotas but EU based multinationals extending their business / exporting milk powder to Africa, tripling exports in 10 years (2006 - 2016) and competing with local farmers to the point they are put out of business. Not sure how the EU fits in there, other than that they provide an economic and legislative climate that allows milk prices to go low enough to make such a business viable.

Then the comment isn't related to the headline

It really is a mixed bag, but here in HN the EU gets very good publicity because it's always compared to the US. (Not that I'm pro-EU or anything)