The European Commission has announced emergency EU funding of 125 million euros for fruit and vegetable growers hit by Russia’s ban on imported Western food.

However, peaches are not included in the scheme.

Despite assurances by Ministers and government officials that Greek farmers will be compensated with EU funds, the decision announced today by the EU Commissioner for Agriculture Dacian Ciolos did not include peaches.

According to the official announcement of the EU, products covered by the measures will include carrots, tomatoes, cabbage, peppers, eggplants, cucumbers and gherkins, mushrooms, apples, pears, forest fruits, table grapes and kiwi.

So far, the Greek government has not commented on this decision.

“Taking into account the market situation following the Russian restrictions on imports of EU agricultural products, with effect from today, I am triggering CAP emergency measures which will reduce overall supply of a number of fruit and vegetable products on the European market as and when price pressures become too great in the coming months,” Mr Ciolos said.
The formal decision to adopt the measures will be taken in the next few weeks, but will be implemented retroactively to Monday if confirmed, the EU said.
The countries that will particularly benefit from this aid are Russia’s major suppliers of fruit and vegetables, namely Poland, Lithuania, Belgium and the Netherlands, a EU source explained.