Press Release: The European Commission announces exceptional support measures for EU producers of perishable fruit & vegetables

In the context of Russian restrictions on imports of EU agricultural products and following on from Management Committee meeting discussion of the market situation during the previous week, the European Commission moved as from the 18 August 2014 to introduce support measures for certain perishable fruits & vegetables.

The products concerned by the measures announced on the 18 August 2014 were: tomatoes, carrots, white cabbage, peppers, cauliflowers, cucumbers, and gherkins, mushrooms, apples, pear, red fruits, table grapes and kiwis. The markets for these products were in full season, with no storage option for most of them and no immediate alternative market available.

The European Commission announced emergency EU funding of €125m for fruit and vegetable growers to be spent by November 2014.

Only an end to the Russian sanctions would help growers in the long term, some newspaper commentators wrote. Others placed their hopes in alternative markets.

Some of the features also discuss the impact of EU sanctions against Russia in terms of food exports.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Commission statement after Management Committee meeting today to assess the potential impact of Russia sanctions on EU Agriculture products http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-commission-statement-after-management-committee-meeting-today-to-assess-the-potential-impact-of-russia-sanctions-on-eu-agriculture-products/

EurActiv, 18.08.14: EU farmers handed €125 million to offset Russia sanctions http://www.euractiv.com/sections/agriculture-food/eu-farmers-handed-eu125-million-offset-russia-sanctions-307816

BBC News, 18.08.14: EU compensates fruit and veg growers hit by Russian ban http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-28834170

Deutsche Welle, 18.08.14: EU to help farmers hit by Russian import ban http://dw.de/p/1CwQr

FreshFruitPortal.com, 18.08.14: EU slates €125M for emergency measures to prop up produce industry http://www.freshfruitportal.com/2014/08/18/eu-slates-e125m-for-emergency-measures-for-produce-industry/?country=unitedkingdom

FreshFruitPortal.com: Tag: Russian Ban http://www.freshfruitportal.com/tag/russian-ban/?country=unitedkingdom

COPA-COGECA: Press Release, 18.08.14: COPA-COGECA welcomes swift action by EU Commission to introduce support measures for perishable fruit and vegetables in response to Russian ban on agri-food exports http://www.copa-cogeca.be/Download.ashx?ID=1253993&fmt=pdf

EUObserver, 18.08.14: EU sets aside €125mn to stabilise food prices http://euobserver.com/economic/125283

EurActiv, 19.08.14: Russia's sanctions threaten both EU farmers and policymakers http://www.euractiv.com/sections/agriculture-food/russias-sanctions-threaten-both-eu-farmers-and-policymakers-307827

Euro|Topics, 19.08.14: Russian sanctions: EU helps farmers http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER148882-Russian-sanctions-EU-helps-farmers

EurActiv, 20.08.14: After food ban, Russia markets shrimp “from Belarus” http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/after-food-ban-russia-markets-shrimp-belarus-307858

The Conversation, 20.08.14: How the EU is handling Russia’s food import ban http://theconversation.com/how-the-eu-is-handling-russias-food-import-ban-30675

FoodDrinkEurope: Newsroom: Statement, 07.08.14: FoodDrinkEurope’s statement on Russian agri-food imports sanctions http://www.fooddrinkeurope.eu/uploads/statements_documents/STATEMENT_Russian_Sanctions.pdf

EurActiv, 20.08.14: Poland wants EU to complain to WTO over Russian embargo http://www.euractiv.com/sections/social-europe-jobs/poland-wants-eu-complain-wto-over-russian-embargo-307859

EUObserver, 20.08.14: Poland demands WTO challenge over Russia food ban http://euobserver.com/news/125295

EurActiv, 20.08.14: Commission ‘analyses’ Poland's complaint over Russian food ban http://www.euractiv.com/sections/europes-east/commission-analyses-polands-complaint-over-russian-food-ban-307873

EUObserver, 21.08.14: Russia relaxes EU food ban, counts costs http://euobserver.com/economic/125312

EurActiv, 21.08.14: Switzerland rejects requests from EU firms to bypass Russia’s food ban http://www.euractiv.com/sections/europes-east/switzerland-rejects-requests-eu-firms-bypass-russias-food-ban-307883

EurActiv, 21.08.14: Russia takes aim at US symbol McDonalds http://www.euractiv.com/sections/europes-east/russia-takes-aim-us-symbol-mcdonalds-307881

EurActiv, 21.08.14: Self-imposed food sanctions have already caused inflation in Russia http://www.euractiv.com/sections/agriculture-food/self-imposed-food-sanctions-have-already-caused-inflation-russia-307885

EUObserver, 22.08.14: Can Europe afford a Russia trade war? [Analysis] http://euobserver.com/news/125304

European Commission: RAPID: Press Release, IP/14/944: Commission Statement on today’s Expert Group meeting to discuss agricultural markets in the context of the Russian ban http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-14-944_en.pdf

EurActiv, 22.08.14: Serbia assures EU it will not exploit Russian food ban http://www.euractiv.com/sections/enlargement/serbia-assures-eu-it-will-not-exploit-russian-food-ban-307929

EurActiv, 22.08.14: EU ready to support dairy sector hit by Russia food ban http://www.euractiv.com/sections/agriculture-food/eu-ready-support-dairy-sector-hit-russia-food-ban-307935

EurActiv, 26.08.14: German lobby group regrets fall of exports to Russia http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/german-lobby-group-regrets-fall-exports-russia-307965

EurActiv, 26.08.14: Hungary's Orbán wants warmer EU-Russia ties to boost business http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/hungarys-orban-wants-warmer-eu-russia-ties-aid-business-307968

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