The European Commission (EC) is making close to £83 million available to fund programmes in 2016 which will be geared to find new markets for farm produce while also promoting consumption both inside and outside the EU.
The new package, announced today, includes £22m of ring-fenced money to be used for information and promotion programmes targeted specifically at developing markets for milk and pigmeat products.
“Europe’s agri-food produce is second to none in the global marketplace,” said European farm commissioner, Phil Hogan, pointing out that the EU’s agricultural export market, worth €110 billion (£82bl), was vital to creating jobs and growth in rural areas across Europe.
“I am delighted to unveil this new promotion regime, which will see €111m (£83m) leverage further opportunities for EU agri-food produce in new markets, as well as grow our presence in existing markets.”
Mr Hogan (pictured above) also said he was particularly pleased to announce the ring-fencing of £22m for the troubled milk and pigmeat sectors, indicating that this part of the fund would come from the EC’s recently announced €500m (£373m) agri-markets package.
“I look forward to mounting a diplomatic offensive in the coming months,” he said, “leading trade missions to open further opportunities for EU producers across the globe.”
Called Enjoy, it’s from Europe, the EC’s new promotion policy is designed to “help the sector’s professionals break into or consolidate international markets and make European consumers more aware of the efforts made by European farmers”.
To achieve this goal, the Commission said it will make more resources available, will increase the co-financing rate from today’s 50% to 70-80% and will cut the red tape for the approval of projects.
It also stated that the 2016 programme will target a selected list of third countries where there is the highest potential for growth, especially for the sectors experiencing a particularly difficult market situation at present, such as dairy and pigmeat.