EC almost ready to launch another crisis reserve says minister

The European Commission has declared that it is prepared to launch another agricultural reserve, Poland’s agriculture minister announced on Wednesday.

Henryk Kowalczyk said that the EU funds supplemented with those from the national budget would allow more for more than PLN 500 million (EUR 106.7 million) in total funds to be allocated to support for farmers.

He pointed out that the first EU tranche, in the amount of EUR 29.6 million, was "very close to being finally approved by the EC" and would be intended for countries bordering Ukraine.

"Another decision is forthcoming soon concerning the launch of yet another crisis reserve for agriculture," he added. "And we are also talking about a sum over EUR 20 million."

The agriculture minister made the announcement before he held a 'round table' meeting with farmers' unions concerning the grain market situation in Poland.