07/11/2001 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the European Commission authorised Belgium to pay national aid amounting to EUR 29.7 million in favour of Belgian beef producers who have suffered financial losses because of the BSE crisis. The Commission had given its clearance in July for a first payment of aid of an equivalent amount. The Commission has again acknowledged that the crisis in the beef and veal sector is a sufficiently exceptional event to warrant such aid.