“The programs that promote Agricultural Products are co-funded at about 70% within duration of 1 to 3 years regarding the European Market as well as the Third Countries’ Markets based on the regulations 3/2008 and 501/2008.
The professional and inter-professional organizations that are largely represented have the right to submit twice a year, till the 30th of September and till the 15th of April” stressed in an interview to “In-On” magazine the Head of the European Information Center of Crete of the European Committee Mrs. Vassiliki Madoulka and Mr. Manolis Tsantakis, member of the European Team.
Question: Tell us about the new Regulation 1305/2013 of the European Committee that supports agricultural growth?
Answer: The support is provided to producers’ organizations which are recognized by the Ministry of Rural Development and Food based on business plan.
This support is given in the form of a special grant (up to 100.000 Euros per year) in annual installments for five (5) years at a maximum rate since the date on which the producers’ organization was acknowledged, based on business plan in a descending mode.
Question: Do you calculate on the basis of the annual marketed production?
Answer: The support is provided so as forms of cooperation are promoted that involve at least two parts. More particularly:
a) Methods of cooperation between institutions that contribute to achieving the goals of the rural development policy, including: producer associations, cooperatives and inter branch organizations
b) Creation of clusters and networks
c) Establishment and operation of the operational teams of the European Innovation Partnership
This cooperation includes among others the following:
a) Pilot projects
b) Development of new products, practices, processes and technologies
c) Cooperation between small enterprises in order to organize joint working methods and joint facilities used as well as for the development and marketing of tourism services that are connected with agro tourism.
d) Horizontal and vertical cooperation along the supply chain for the creation and development of the short supply chains and local markets.
e) Promotional activities at a local level
Question: Tell us about the new Regulation 1308/2013 which establishes a common organization in the agricultural markets?
Answer: Support in the field of olive oil.
The European Union funds three-year projects that are drawn up by producer organizations, associations of producer organizations or inter professional organizations that aim at:
a) Monitoring and management of olive oil market
b) Improvement of the environmental impacts on olive cultivation
c) Improvement of the competitiveness of olive cultivation
d) Improvement of the quality of olive oil production
e) Tracking system, certification and quality protection
f) Providing information on improving the quality of olive oil
Support the field of fruit and vegetables
The operational projects of the Producer Organizations in the fruit and vegetables sector range between three years minimum to five years maximum. Among others are funded:
– Coordinated varietal conversion (new planting, uprooting and replanting, revaccination)
– Propagation material related to perennial crops
– Cost for organic seeds
– Investments in greenhouses, methods of primary and secondary production
– Purchase of equipment for network weather warnings
– Purchase of machinery and equipment that is related to the production
– Acquisition of the methods of production of common use by the member producers
– Equipment acquisition of production collection along with methods of collection of common use by the member producers
– Equipment related to irrigation systems
– Provision of computer hardware for the improvement of production monitoring
The operational projects of the Producer Organizations in the fruit and vegetables sector range between three years minimum to five years maximum. Among others are funded:
– Complete integrated production management (certification costs)
– Organization and quality certification with ISO, HACCP
– Organization for traceability
– Plastic boxes for multiple use
– Greenhouse nylon covers
– Computerization of the quality control systems
– Staff costs involved in the improvement or maintenance of a high level of quality
-Investments for the creation or/and the improvement of the infrastructure used for the marketing of production (reception, sorting – production, packaging, storage)
The operational projects of the Producer Organizations in the fruit and vegetables sector range between three years minimum to five years maximum. Among others are funded:
– Investments in commercial offices
– Investments in transport due to additional facilities related to cooling mechanisms or controlled atmosphere
– Creation of a website
– Market research (market analysis, consumers’ tests)
– Products promotion (leaflets, press entries, ads)
– Participation in exhibitions
– Creation of a marketing department in order to monitor supply and demand in the markets, price formation etc
– Purchase of land (it is connected with a particular investment of the operational project)
The operational projects of the Producer Organizations in the fruit and vegetables sector range between three years minimum to five years maximum. Among others are funded:
– Staff costs involved in improving the level of marketing
– Complete crop management
– Study visits at home and abroad
– Expenditure on educational projects
– Investments on domestic transport
– Additional facilities to vehicles, related to cooling mechanisms or transport under controlled atmosphere
– Expenditure related to advertising print on packaging or labels
Question: Tell us about the support programs in the wine sector?
Answer: The support programs in the wine sector are the following:
The support programs may include one or more of the following:
a) Promotion
b) Restructure and conversion of the vineyards
c) Early harvest
d) Mutual funds
e) Insurance of the harvest
f) Investments
g) Innovation in the wine sector
h) Sub-Product distillation
Reinforcement in the field of beekeeping
In order to improve production and marketing regarding apiculture products the members-countries may establish three-year national programs in the field of beekeeping. These programs are developed in cooperation with organizations that represent beekeeping sector.
These particular programs may include the following measures:
a) Technical assistance to beekeepers and beekeeping organizations
b) Combating diseases, especially varroasis
c) Rationalization of seasonal transport
d) Measures to support the analysis laboratories regarding apiculture products
e) Measures to strengthen the restoration of the beekeeping funds
f) Cooperation with specialized bodies so as to implement applied research programs
g) Improvement on product quality
Promotion programs of Agricultural products
The Promotion programs of Agricultural products are co funded at 70%. They last from one to three years for the European Union market. Regarding the Third countries they are based on the regulations 3/2008 and 501/2008.
Professional and inter professional organizations which are largely represented have the right to submit, twice a year, till the 30th of September and till the 15th of April.
Promotion of wine to Third country markets
Professional and inter professional organizations that are largely represented have the right to submit. Each project can last three years maximum. One can choose the expenses related to the following actions:
a) Entries in the general and specialized press
b) Advertising on the Internet, on TV and radio
c) Creation of a website
d) Production of printed material (leaflets, brochures, maps)
e) Demonstrations at points of sale, food and wine tasting
f) Participation in trade fairs
g) Public relations
h) Research related to new markets which are necessary for the expansion of market outlets
i) Research to evaluate the effects on promotion and information measures
Question: Tell us about the new European strategy that promotes coastal and marine tourism?
Answer: Acknowledging the potential of the field that aims at sustainable growth and job creation, the strategy involves a great deal of actions that are to help coastal areas and businesses respond to the challenges they face so as to reinforce their position as a drive force of «blue economy» in Europe.
These particular actions are supplemented by detailed activities taken by member –countries, regions and interested parties.
The European Committee suggests the following:
– Creation of an online guide dealing with the main funding opportunities for this field (especially for small and medium-sizes businesses)
– Promotion of a dialogue at a European level between cruise organizers, ports and interested parties of coastal tourism
– Focus on the coastal and marine initiatives taken by the European Union in the field of tourism, including promotion campaigns and communication
– Support the development of transnational and interregional partnerships, networks, clusters and strategies related to smart specialization
– Promotion of innovative management systems with the help of ICT tools along with the portal of tourism enterprises
There is greater availability and completeness of the data regarding coastal and marine tourism.
– Development of ecotourism and its connection with other actions that promote the sustainability of the field
– Promotion strategies regarding waste prevention and management of marine litter aiming at the sustainable development of coastal and marine tourism
– Conduct a study on the way to improve the ferry connection among the islands and the design of innovative tourist strategies for the (isolated) islands
– Conduct a study in order to identify innovative practices for the development of marinas.
Reconstitution of the Beehives Funds
