Brussels, 01/12/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 1 December, the European Commission approved 20 programmes to promote agricultural products in third countries. The programmes, which will last for a period of three years, have a total budget of €60.2 million, of which €30.1 million (50%) will be paid for out of the EU budget. The programmes selected concern fresh and processed fruit and vegetables, milk and dairy products, protected designations of origin (PDO), protected geographical indications (PGI) and traditional specialities guaranteed (TSG), organic food and agriculture, olive oil, wine and spirits, cereals and rice, horticulture and meat.
In the framework of the information and promotion regime and in addition to programmes already agreed under the heading of co-funding in 2011 targeting the single market and those adopted to counter the effects of the E.coli crisis in the fresh fruit and vegetables sector, the services of the Commission received 31 programmes targeting third countries at the end of June 2011. Of these programmes, 20 were selected for co-funding. The programmes which will receive the most funding are: a Greek programme to promote olive oil in North America, Australia and Norway (€2.9 million of Community funds), an Italian programme to promote olive oil in North America (€2.8 million of EU funding), a Greek programme to promote quality products (€2.4 million), a Polish programme to promote fresh fruit and vegetables (€1.9 million). (LC/transl.fl)