Brussels, 10/07/2006 (Agence Europe) - On Friday, the European Commission decided to allocate €27.6 million of Community funds to the promotion of agricultural products in the EU. Included for the first time are measures on the poultry sector, which has been severely affected by a drop in consumption as a result of fears about bird flu.
31 programmes, out of the 79 put forward, have been approved. The total budget for three years amounts to €55.3 million, of which the EU will contribute €27.6 million. 19 Member States will benefit from Community funds. In Germany, the EU will contribute almost €6 million for the poultry (eggs), dairy (butter) and plant sectors. Belgium, France and the Netherlands will be involved in a programme with total EU funding of €2 million focusing on potatoes. €674,000 will be given to a German and Dutch programme in the plant sector.
Other Community funding is as follows- poultry: Greece and Cyprus (€1.5 million), Finland (€400,000); wine: Spain (€909,000), Italy (€442,000), Hungary (€556,000); honey: Czech Republic (€105,000) Estonia (€125,000), Latvia (€152,000), Finland (€150,000); dairy products: Greece (€2.5 million), Latvia (€166,000), Portugal (€2.5million), Finland (€225,000); fruit and vegetables: Denmark (€1.1 million), Latvia (€303,000), Netherlands (€1.1 million); plants: Netherlands (€78,000); meat: Austria (€1.35 million), Poland (€900,000), United Kingdom (€207,000)); organic products: Italy (€816,000), Latvia (€75,000), Poland (€1.5 million), Sweden (€238,000); quality products: Italy (€775,000), Portugal (€498,000).