Plant Health: 11 Million Euros Earmarked To Combat Organisms That Endanger Plants

Two co-financing decisions amounting to 11 million euros were endorsed by experts meeting in the Standing Committee on Plant Health. This amount is earmarked to fund 17 programmes in seven Member States that aim to curb the spread of organisms that endanger plants. EU plant health funding is an important trigger to help Member States to safeguard EU agriculture, forests and landscape.

26 Nov 2012 --- On the basis of applications submitted by Member States, the allocation was distributed among: Cyprus (€ 0.13 million ), France (€ 0.3 million), Germany (€ 0.22 million), Italy (€ 0.19 million), The Netherlands (€ 0.29 million), Portugal (€ 7.6 million) and Spain (€ 2.27 million). € 3.9 million of Portugal's allocation is devoted to control outbreaks of pinewood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus), a microscopic worm attacking coniferous trees, which could potentially devastate Europe's pine forests. The rest of the allocation (€ 3.7 million) will help Portugal contain pinewood nematode within the existing demarcated zone, safeguard other Member States and protect trade interests with non-EU countries.