Brussels, 25/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 24 March, the advisory and management committees for this scheme revealed that problems were arising in implementation of the European fruit and vegetable distribution programme in schools (EUROPE 10129). These problems involve the budget, co-funding, implementation, inspections and decision-making deadlines.
In 2009-2010, the first year of implementation, 23 EU countries participated in this scheme. The EU budget rose to €90 million, together with national contributions of €66 million (a total of €156 million). In general, the EU provides funding of 50% to cover spending and 75% goes to the poorest regions (part of the convergence plan). This means that the Community co-funding stands at an average of 58%.
EU experts regretted that only €33.3 million (37.6%) out of €90 million was spent in 2009-2010. This was because of: project start-up problems and co-funding difficulties because countries have to repay the money. Nonetheless, 32,000 schools took part in the programme in the EU, which distributed fruit and vegetables to almost 5 million pupils (18.4% of students aged between 6 and 10 years old). During the second year of the programme (2010-2011), 24 EU countries participated (all member states apart from the United Kingdom, Finland and Sweden).
Experts and operators called for greater programme simplification and coherence (in half of all countries that participated in the programme, distribution took place only once a week). They also highlighted logistical problems (contracts with suppliers for goods that perish very rapidly). (L.C./transl.fl)