Brussels, 22/09/2014 (Agence Europe) - The new package of measures to help the perishable fruit and vegetables sector hit by the Russian embargo should come into effect in the coming days, Roger Waite, spokesperson for Agriculture Commissioner Dacian Ciolos, has said (see EUROPE 11159). The aid should exceed €125 million (the amount provided for in the first aid package that was suspended as a result of disproportionate Polish requests). The Commission does not yet know how it is going to finance the measures which will also apply to citrus fruit (oranges, mandarins and clementines). It will have to determine if the 2015 crisis reserve should be used or if the available funds (2015 budget) from the common agricultural policy (CAP) will be enough (mid-October's autumn amending letter will update spending forecasts). The aid proposes to increase from 5% to 10% the volume of products that can be withdrawn from the market and to provide compensation to producers of between 50% and 100% of the price, depending on whether the product is marketed in another form, is not harvested or is given away free of charge. The money will be shared among the 13 main exporters to Russia, based on export volumes for 2011-2013. (LC)