The European Union will compensate damages incurred by vegetable producers. At least 30 percent of lost income will be compensated from the joint budget in the case of those fruit and vegetable producers who have suffered damages because of the German E. coli epidemic. Speaking on Kossuth Radio, Minister of Rural Development Sándor Fazekas revealed that at the meeting the committee had recommended an EU budget of 150 million Euros, but that this sum may increase if necessary. The exact details will be made public within the next few days.

Those farmers who have been unable to sell their vegetable produce because of panic caused by the German diarrhoea epidemic will be compensated by the Union within weeks. At the extraordinary meeting of Agricultural Ministers convened by Sándor Fazekas, rotating President of the EU Agricultural Council, the decision was also made to compensate farmers from the Union's joint budget to the extent of at least 30 percent of their lost income.

The mood was extremely tense during the five-hour session, at which Europe's Agriculture Ministers searched for a solution to the issue of how to compensate growers who had lost their markets following the German E. coli infection. Although it was often difficult to keep discussions on track, a consensus was finally reached and the Agricultural Council agreed that farmers must be compensated. The next decision needed is for the compensation to apply to the greatest possible number and type of farmers, possibly including even small-scale, licensed producers - stressed Sándor Fazekas on the radio program Hajnal-táj ("Daybreak").

According to the recommendation of the Council, the rate of compensation would be equal to 30 percent of the average vegetable selling price from 2007-2010. This period was chosen because delivery prices on the Union's markets at the time were higher than last year's, meaning an little added plus for producers. However, several countries including Hungary felt even this figure was insufficient. Commissioner for Agriculture Dacian Cioloş has asked for a few days' notice to enable conciliation with other EU organisations and the review of financial resources, so we shall have to wait a few days for the final figures.

Decision-makers are still debating whether compensation should apply to only cucumber, tomato and salad products or to other vegetables too. According to Sándor Fazekas it now seems there is a good chance that it may apply to more vegetables and some fruits may even be included among the products to be subsidised. With regard to the situation in Hungary, the Minister of Rural Development said that it would be irresponsible to begin talking numbers in relation to the damages suffered by Hungarian growers as yet; the assessment of damages would have to wait until the end of the crisis period. He was also quick to repeat that Hungarian produce is safe, healthy and delicious.

Sándor Fazekas once again called on food processors, the hotel and restaurant trade, and those operating school and municipal kitchens to buy up produce from cucumber growers and help the vegetables reach consumers. The Minister asked local governments to explore how temporary selling space could be provided for vegetable growers to help them sell their produce.

(Kossuth Rádió, Press Office of the Ministry of Rural Development)