The European Commission published, on Thursday 2 June, an implementing regulation which exceptionally allows for an increase in EU aid for the school fruit, vegetable and milk scheme for countries hosting Ukrainian children displaced by war launched by Russia.
The reallocation of EU aid is for the programme period from 1 August 2022 to 31 July 2023.
This scheme aims to promote healthy eating and balanced diets through the distribution of fruit, vegetables and dairy products to school children.
The total EU budget for this programme is €220.8 million per school year (€130.6 million for fruit and vegetables and €90.1 million for milk).
This budget is broken down into national allocations set by the Commission on the basis of Member States’ requests (https://aeur.eu/f/1x1 ).
The adopted regulation (https://aeur.eu/f/1x0 ) invites Member States to review their requests for Community assistance for the next school year, in the light of the unprecedented situation that requires support for EU countries on the front line in caring for displaced Ukrainian children.
“Several Member States are facing unprecedented challenges to rapidly integrate displaced children from Ukraine into their education systems”, the text says. Displaced children from Ukraine integrated into the education systems of the Member States benefit from this school milk and fruit scheme. The EU countries most involved in receiving Ukrainians are Poland, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia.
For the period from 1 August 2022 to 31 July 2023, Member States may submit, by 15 June 2022 at the latest, a second application for Union aid, indicating: - their willingness to use more than the final allocation of EU aid under this programme; - the amount of the final aid package that has not been applied for, if not all of this amount is planned to be used.
The Commission will decide by 15 July 2022 on the new allocations for the next school year in the light of the notifications received, redirecting unused amounts to the countries with the largest number of Ukrainian children. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)