EC suspends support for farmers hit by Russian embargo

Image: sxc.hu

The EU's executive body is not satisfied with the implementation of the scheme, which was designed to help agricultural producers affected by Russia's import bans.

The measures were announced on August 18 and were meant to provide a form of compensation for farmers affected by Russia's embargo on food products from Western countries, including all of the EU.

Russia blocked imports of various EU fruit and vegetables after Brussels approved sanctions against Russia in July, and the EC earmarked up to 125 million euro for its compensation scheme.

“There has been strong interest from the sectors concerned, but the scheme has to be closed due to a disproportionate surge in claims – for example where the figures submitted for some products are several times higher than the total EU average annual exports to Russia,” the EC's statement said.

According to the statement, claims received so far have already reached the previously announced threshold, so the plan had to be suspended.

The commission said that it would modify the support scheme and present a new version to member states.

“I intend to present a new scheme in the coming days which is more targeted and efficient and which will continue on from this scheme,” Dacian Ciolos, the commissioner responsible for agriculture, was quoted as saying.

The EC's statement does not mention any specific country. However, sources quoted by PAP said that support claims from Poland were largely behind the decision.

France, for example, typically sells 1% of its fresh fruit and 3% of vegetables to Russia each year, yet some 87 percent of all claims for support so far have come from Polish farmers, the sources said. The EC has asked for a verification of the data. (kw/nh)