The EU believes in the importance of bees.

DESTINATION 5,5 MEUROS TO SPANISH BEEKEEPERS TO IMPROVE THE SECTOR.

The European Union has agreed to grant Spain a total of 5,5 million euros per year, for the next three years (of 2011 to 2013), to improve the procurement and sale of bee products, according to community sources.

This item represents an increase in the 17% regarding the funds that the EU has granted to Spain in the last three years, Well, that figure amounted to 4,68 million euros per year.

The EU Management Committee - made up of experts from the Twenty-Seven- has given approval this week to a proposal with national plans aimed at improving the obtaining of honey and other products from bees.

Brussels estimates that the beekeeping segment is very “sensible” and that in recent years has faced problems such as mortality “unprecedented” of the bees, which is negative not only for the producer but also for biodiversity.

To CE it points, in the proposal, that countries and beekeepers have recognized that the programs have been beneficial, among other purposes, to compensate for the loss of bees.

The committee that brings together European agricultural organizations and cooperatives (Copa-Cogeca), has valued, in a statement, approval of new programs, since they are a help “necessary” for EU beekeepers, as well as for “maintain the production and quality of European honey”.

According to Copa-Cogeca, the plans have been designed “to increase the resilience of EU beekeeping and improve production or sales conditions”.

Among the challenges faced by beekeepers, according to Copa-Cogeca, The reduction in the number of producers and hives stands out and in this sense, has asked that Common Agricultural Policy subsidies be maintained (PAC) after 2013 (year in which the current budget ends).