EU farmers have long been protesting the damage done to their industry by the Russian ban on Western food imports. On Monday 14 March, the European Commission announced more help for the agriculture sector, namely the dairy, pigment, fruit and vegetable sectors.
The support package includes measures such as placing products into storage to reduce surpluses, allowing producers to freeze milk production, relaxing EU limits on state subsidies and effectively suspending EU rules on fair competition.
No new money was promised, but EU officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said some steps, such as extending the aid package for fruit and vegetables, would require funding at a later stage.
European farmers staged protests on Monday, driving their tractors into central Brussels and causing traffic chaos.
In France, the EU's largest agricultural producer, protests have gone on for months and the government has announced tax cuts for farmers.
The Commission is extending help for growers of fruit and vegetables once an existing aid package for that sector expires at the end of June.
Since Russia banned Western food imports, the European Commission has mobilised more than 1 billion euros (£775.3 million) to help farmers.
It is also offering help, including funding for promotional campaigns, to find new markets.
Source: af.reuters.com