Brussels, 16/06/2005 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the European Commission approved 26 different programmes intended to boast the merits of European farm products with EU citizens. The Community budget contributes up to EUR 26.1 million (i.e. 50%) of the funding of these programmes lasting from one to three years and presented by fourteen Member States (Belgium, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Finland, United Kingdom, Hungary, Poland and Cyprus). The programmes cover organic products, olive oil, milk and cheese, ham, fruit and vegetables, plants and flowers, wine and also names of origin or protected geographical indications (PGI).
The Member States that benefit the most from these programmes are Spain (EUR 4.5 million for clementines and lemons, and EUR 1 million for organic products); Italy (with EUR 1.8 million for milk and EUR 1.3 million for wine); France (EUR 2.2 million for bananas); Belgium (a programme allocated EUR 1.7 million for milk); the United Kingdom (mainly EUR 1.5 million for milk); and the Netherlands (EUR 1.1 million for flowers).