The new promotion policy, which was adopted today, is set to be launched in 2016, will support European farmers and food producers by aiming to make more resources available, increase the co-financing rate and cut the red tape for the approval of projects.
Under the new programme, EU co-financing rates will go up from 50% to 70-80% (and up to 85% for Greece and Cyprus) while national co-financing programmes will disappear – something that the European Commission believes will create a level playing field across Member States.
Red tape will be significantly cut during the selection process of projects, making it easier to apply, it said.
Targeting export
The promotion policy will also target a selected list of third countries where there is the highest potential for growth, in particular in sectors experiencing a particularly difficult market situation – like dairy and pig meat.
"Europe's agri-food produce is second to none in the global marketplace. The €110 billion EU export market creates jobs and growth in rural areas across Europe,” said EU Commissioner for Agriculture & Rural Development Phil Hogan in a statement. “To continue this export drive, I am delighted to unveil this new promotion regime, which will see €111 million leverage further opportunities for EU agri-food produce in new markets, as well as grow our presence in existing markets.”
Hogan added that €30m of the total programme budged will be ring-fenced “for the troubled milk and pigmeat sectors as part of the recently announced €500 million agri-markets package.”