10/02/2006 (Agence Europe) - In a press release published on 7 February, the Committee of Professional Agricultural Organisations in the EU (COPA) and the General Confederation of Agricultural Cooperatives in the EU (COGECA) have called on the European institutions to pay greater attention to 'catastrophes affecting rural society' in their attempts to keep the EU Solidarity Fund up to date. The fund was set up in 2002 and its rules will not be changed over the 2007-2013 period, but the two farm lobby groups explain that 'climate change is increasing both the frequency and severity of natural, weather-related disasters. For example, major storms hit Europe more and more often. So far, the Solidarity Fund is geared towards single-events disasters. However, rural areas are increasingly affected by repeated adverse event with ongoing effect such as droughts and frosts, which only become catastrophic over a certain time.'