Brussels: 19/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 18 July, the management committee of the EU approved the payment of €99.3 million to co-fund with the member states support measures for beekeepers over the period 2014-2016. This represents €33.1 million a year paid for out of the EU budget, compared to €32 million a year over the period 2011-2013. The increase can be explained solely by Croatia's accession to the European Union.
With the EU importing 40% of all the honey eaten by Europeans, these funds, which will be matched by the same amount from national envelopes, aim to support the production and sales of apiculture products. The sector, which is dominated by small operators, with some 15 million hives, is struggling to cope with decreases in bee numbers.
Each of the 28 member states will benefit, with Spain and France - the two largest producers - dividing up the lion's share, with €16 and €10 million respectively granted over three years. Romania comes in third place with an envelope of €9.9 million. Estonia is likely to achieve the greatest increase in production in the whole of the EU, with plans to increase hive numbers by 67%. These subsidies will support six types of action to help beekeepers: technical assistance, controls of varroasis (a parasitic disease affecting bees), rationalisation of transhumance, laboratory support, restocking of hives and applied research. (LC/transl.fl)