The European Commission approved 27 programs to promote agricultural products in the European Union and in third countries. The total budget of the programs, the grand majority of which will run for a period of three years, is 77.4 million euros of which the EU contributes 39 million euros. The selected programs 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 on Thursday: “I am pleased to confirm our support for these new promotion programs, 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.”

Four Greek proposing organizations are to receive 3-year-funding are Coop Zagora EAS Naxos PES (2,233,020 euros), Krito Artos-Mptzakis Aebbt-Masaoutis (2,383,000 euros), Coop Mastiha Chios + Coop Kymis + Mediterra (2,993,087 euros) and ALMME (2,661,000 euros).

By June 15, 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.