Brussels, 30/08/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 30 August, the European Parliament (EP) agriculture committee ratified an oral question (with resolution) on the situation in the apiculture sector (see EUROPE 10147) to be put to the European Commission at the September plenary session. The committee is concerned about the future of initiatives which seek to improve production and commercialisation conditions of apiculture products. Current aid schemes for bee-keeping are due to expire at the end of 2012.
On 10 November, the European Commission will adopt a communication on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) after 2013. “How will the Commission ensure that existing support for the apiculture sector is maintained and strengthened in the CAP after 2013?” asks the committee in its oral question. On 22 July, the EU decided to increase the Community budget for European bee-keeping schemes to €32 million per year (see EUROPE 10187). However, “there are still concerns about the numerous challenges and problems faced by the European apiculture sector,” the oral question says.
In addition, the EP will ask the Commission how it intends to distribute the dedicated EU budget for these bee-keeping schemes among member states in the period from 2010 to 2012. The Commission will also be asked if it backs the EP conviction (in its resolution of November 2008) that the apiculture sector should be “supported in an even wider and coherent manner using additional instruments in the future CAP”, and the EP cites measures to improve biodiversity, to mitigate the effects of climate change, and to safeguard and improve the quality and smooth running of the market for apiculture products. The sector is still suffering from declining colonies. Thus the EP recommends that the illnesses and parasites which are decimating the bee population should be included in the EU veterinary policy (reimbursement of certain expenditure). (L.C./transl.rt)