Owing to the prolongation of the ban on the importation of certain agricultural and food products into Russia from the EU, this year Croatia has once again been authorised by the Commission to take additional extraordinary temporary measures to support producers in respect of 600 tonnes of apples and 1000 tonnes of mandarins, which — it is expected — will not be sold, and in respect of an additional amount of up to 3000 tonnes of one or more products. It was decided that these measures would apply to another 1700 tonnes of apples, so that the total amount that may be withdrawn from the market would reach 2300 tonnes, with a further 1300 tonnes of mandarins able to be withdrawn. The Ministry of Agriculture has stipulated that as in 2015, the withdrawn food shall be donated to humanitarian organisations, social welfare institutions and centres, preschool facilities, primary and secondary schools that are not involved in the school fruit and vegetable programme, hospitals and correctional facilities. Last year, the EU paid fruit producers total ‘compensation’ of HRK 18.8 million for the authorised 8350 tonnes, and now fruit producers are unhappy with this year’s quota of 4600 tonnes, which is half as much.

What long-term measures will the Commission adopt to help farmers who are suffering as a result of the Russian embargo?