Brussels, 23/07/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 23 July, COPA-COGECA (European farmers' European agri-cooperatives) welcomed the EU's approval of new national beekeeping programmes for 2010-2013. COPA-COGECA points out that this EU aid for beekeepers will ensure the production of high-quality European honey.
Pekka Pesonen, COPA-COGECA Secretary-General, said: “I am pleased that all member states are interested in using the programmes, even though they are optional to apply. This clearly shows the benefits of the schemes. The measures play an important role in securing the production and quality of honey in the EU, as well as maintaining sufficient numbers of honey bees in the EU”. He added: “I am particularly glad that the EU has decided to raise the EU budget for these programmes to €32 million annually for the EU of 27 member states. This is urgently needed by the sector, which is not just important from an economic point of view, but also in terms of maintaining biodiversity, pollinating crops and wild flora, as well as maintaining employment in rural areas”.
In the light of the considerable challenges facing beekeeping in Europe, like the collapse of colonies, the death of bees and the declining numbers of beekeepers, COPA-COCECA calls for the aid for beekeepers to continue in the common agricultural policy beyond 2013. “This support is vital to preserve a striving beekeeping sector in Europe and to enable consumers to benefit from high-quality EU bee products”, explains COPA-COGECA.
The bee-keeping programmes have been approved by the EU management committee for the Common Organisation of Agricultural Markets, Animal Products Section. They are jointly financed 50-50 by the EU and its member states. The measures, which are optional for member states to apply, have been designed to increase the resilience of EU beekeeping by enabling producers to improve conditions for the production and marketing of apiculture products. (J.I./transl.fl)