Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

205. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding provided by the European Union to support farmers and the agricultural sector in member states affected by the Russian embargo in each of the years 2011 to 2018, in tabular form; the countries that received such aid; the sectors in this regard, respectively in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6229/19]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

A general ban on the importation of agrifood products was imposed by the Russian Federation in August 2014 on countries (including the EU) which had adopted sanctions against Russia in the context of the situation in Ukraine. Although partially lifted (since 1 June 2016) in respect of imports of beef, poultry and vegetables intended for use in baby food manufacturing, the overall ban remains in place until 31 December 2019.

The European Commission, with the help of EU member states, has closely monitored the different markets affected by the ban and has taken a range of emergency measures, notably for the dairy sector and for fruit & vegetables that are designed to help producers address market pressure, stabilise prices and find alternative sales opportunities.

According to Commission data, in the case of fruits and vegetables, the last emergency measures were phased out on 30 June 2018. From the time the ban was introduced, the EU granted €500 million of aid, corresponding to withdrawals of 1.7 million tonnes, to EU producers of fruit and vegetables. In the period up to July 2017, the total aid requested amounted to €452 million, in respect of 1.6 million tonnes of fruit & vegetables.

Fruit & Veg - Main Member states concerned are

In the case of the dairy sector, specific aid was granted to the Baltic States, which were particularly exposed to the impacts of the Russian ban, as follows (again, according to data available from the European Commission):

More generally, October 2015 saw the European Commission and Member States agree a support package to help farmers most affected by on-going market difficulties, which had been caused by a number of factors including the effects of the Russian ban. Allocations totalling €420 million were made to Member States to support the dairy andlivestock sectors in particular, with flexibility for Member States to decide how to target this support. Figures from the Commission on the breakdown by Member State are as follows:

Additionally, in July 2016, the European Commission agreed a further solidarity package worth €500 million, which included provision for a milk production reduction scheme, conditional adjustment aid, and extension of public intervention and aids for private storage schemes.

Further to that, in order to help boost exports to alternative markets outside the EU, the European Commission has increased promotion funds from €142.5 million in 2017 to €188.5 million in 2018 and €200 million in 2020. Promotion policy rules set out how EU funding can be used for information and promotion initiatives both inside and outside of the EU.

I have consistently urged the European Commission to intensify its contacts with the Russian authorities with a view to lifting its embargo. While efforts to secure real engagement from the Russian authorities will continue, the broader task of securing alternative market outlets for EU food products will also continue to be progressed.