The European Commission approved additional EU support for the promotion of fresh fruit and vegetables following the E-coli crisis on the internal market and third countries. The total budget for the 14 programmes approved, running for a period of three years, is €34.1 million of which the EU contributes €17.0 million (50%).

The European Commission approved 14 programmes in 11 Member States to promote fresh fruit and vegetables both on the internal market and in third countries. The total budget for the programmes, running for a period of three years, is €34.1 million of which the EU contributes €17.0 million (50%). The Commission proposal of increase the EU support under the emergency plan for vegetable producers affected by the E-Coli crisis was accepted by Member States in July 2011.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dacian Cioloş, highlighted that this additional envelope comes in addition to the emergency measures put in place during the summer to help the fruit and vegetables sector come to terms with the e-coli crisis. The pledged support to the sector by accelerating the approval procedures for promotion programmes.

The Council decided that the EU could assist in financing measures that provide information on or promote agricultural products and food on the EU single market and in third countries in 2000. The total budget available for these promotion programmes is €55 million a year. The EU finances up to 50% of the cost of these measures. The remaining 50% are met by the professional/inter-branch organisations which proposed the measures and/or by the Member States concerned.