The Commission proposal of increase the EU support under the emergency plan for vegetable producers affected by the E-Coli crisis have been accepted by Member States. Accordingly, the budget will be increased from €210 to €227 million.

The new decision foresees paying a maximum rate of 50% (70% for members of Producers Organisations) of the usual producer price of the different products in June. EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Dacian Cioloş stressed that this measure will ensure that Commission properly support EU vegetable producers in these difficult economic times for the sector and allow the reimbursement of all Member State demands for the period from May 26 to June 30, although the use of CAP funds needs to be fully justified.

The Commission launched in June an emergency aid package for fresh vegetable growers worth €210 million. This scheme allowed for the EU to pay producers for cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, courgettes, and sweet peppers that have been withdrawn from the market between the 26 of May and the end of June as a result of the E-Coli outbreak.

Member States had to notify their final demands for compensation by 18 July. On the basis of the notifications from all Member States on the EU support requested for all the exceptional measures, i.e. withdrawals, green and non harvesting, it appears that the financial impact of the measures taken in the context of this E-Coli crisis has been slightly bigger than expected. Therefore, the Commission considers it therefore appropriate to increase the budget up to €227 million in order to help the fruit and vegetables market.