Brussels, 13/01/2006 (Agence Europe) - On 12 January, the European Commission approved 25 programmes to promote consumption of a number of agricultural products within the EU. From its 2005 budget, the EU will contribute 25.5 million euro, half the total spending, for measures such as public relations, publicity campaigns etc.
The 25 programmes selected by the Commission cover organic agricultural products, agricultural quality products which already have protected appellation status at Community level, oils (rapeseed, olive etc), milk and dairy products, cheeses, meat, wines, fruit and vegetables, flowers and potatoes. They were submitted by 14 states: Belgium, Germany, Greece and Cyprus, Spain, France, Italy, Hungary, Austria, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Finland and the United Kingdom. Most of the programmes will last three years.
The largest projects are: Community funding of 3 million euro for a Belgian-French-Dutch programme to promote processed vegetables; 3 million euro to extol the virtues of French quality products; 2 million euro for fresh Italian fruit; 2 million euro for meat products from Germany; 1.4 million euro to promote quality Scotch meat; 1.4 million euro for Greek and Cyprus potatoes; and 1.3 million euro of German rapeseed oil. Last June, the Commission adopted a first series of programmes for 2005 with funding of 26.1 million euro from the EU budget (see EUROPE 8970).