Spain: Green light from the European Commission to the National Beekeeping Plan (2017-2019)
The National Beekeeping Plan for the triennium 2017-2019 has already the endorsement of the European Commission in Brussels, following the conclusion of the 183rd meeting of the Management Committee of the Single Common Market Organisation (CMO), in which have been approved 27 aid programs beekeeping presented by the State Members. With this authorization, the Spanish beekeeping sector will receive 16,905,000 euros from EU funds during the years 2017, 2018 and 2019, divided into annual installments of 5,635,000 euros.
These amounts will be supplemented by the same amount by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment (MAGRAMA) and the Autonomous Communities, so that in the total count, 33.8 million euros will be those made available to beekeeping Spanish in the next triennium.
Spain is the member country of the European Union that receives more aid percentage (15.65% of total), being at the forefront census, with 2,722,327 beehives, of which 80% belong to professional beekeepers ( with over 150 hives).
The National Program of measures to support beekeeping for the next three years, which is integrated into the operational programs support the first pillar of the CAP, presents some new features compared to previous programs, the result of 12 years of experience in their application from their beginning in 1998. in particular, the extension of lines and measures to subsidize. Measures aimed inform and optimize efficiency and results, given the condition of Spain as Community State greater weight in European beekeeping.
The new National Program of measures to support beekeeping serves to underline the need to focus financial resources on solving the health problems of the Spanish beekeeping, and improve the quality and value of honey and bee products.
Thus, line B, traditionally anti varroosis, other diseases and attacks of hives is expanded and a new line of support, the H line, with measures aimed at improving the quality of bee products in order implants to exploit the potential of these on the market. In addition, it reactivates the line E, which was excluded from the last program of aid for restocking hives.
Apart from these developments, the program continues to maintain as basic guidelines aid for training and technical assistance, rationalization of transhumance, measures to support laboratories of apiculture products, and collaboration with specialized bodies for the implementation of applied research programs in the field of beekeeping and products from beekeeping.
With these aids the importance of the Spanish beekeeping, one of the best models of sustainable production to coalesce economic, environmental and social interests, contributing to the establishment of the population in rural areas, also facilitating the ecological balance and maintaining biodiversity.
The complete 2017-2019 NAPA document will be available on the website of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment.
Source: MAGRAMA
