The European
Commission has today approved 27 programmes to promote agricultural
products in the European Union and in third countries. The total budget
of the programmes, the grand majority of which will run for a period of
three years, is € 77,4 million of which the EU contributes € 39 million.
The selected programmes cover a variety of product categories, such as
fresh and processed fruit and vegetables, dairy products, quality
products (PDOs, PGIs, TSGsand organic products), flowers, quality meat,
as well as, for the first time, sheepmeat.
EU Agriculture Commissioner Dacian Cioloş stated today: "I
am pleased to confirm our support for these new promotion programmes,
including sheepmeat for the first time. I hope they will boost
consumption and sales at this difficult time. In the course of the last 5
years, we have become a net exporter of agri food products, with the
value of exports accelerating faster than the volume, as consumers in
other parts of the world appreciate the traditions, quality standards
and tastes of Europe. These new measures will further enhance that
reputation."
By 15 June 2014, within the
information and promotion scheme, the Commission services received 43
proposals for programmes targeting the internal market and third
countries as part of the second wave of programme selection for year
2014. After evaluation, 27 programmes were retained for co-financing out
of which 21 target the internal market and 6 target third countries.
Third countries and regions targeted are: North America, Latin America,
Middle East, South-East Asia, Japan, North Africa and Turkey.
Moreover, two of the accepted
programmes are so-called multi-programmes, programmes from organisations
located in different member states that jointly carry out a promotion
campaign. In the context of the recently agreed reform of the promotion
policy, this type of promotion campaigns will be even more encouraged.
