Common organisation of the markets in agricultural products 2014-2020. Single CMO Regulation

2011/0281(COD)

This report concerns the implementation of the measures relating to the beekeeping sector of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the common organisation of the markets in agricultural products. It covers the 2013, 2014 and 2015 beekeeping years.

During the three beekeeping years covered by the report, the changes in the beekeeping sector introduced by the CAP reform in 2013 had not yet been implemented. Nevertheless, the report presents the main changes introduced by the CAP reform as well as the latest information available on hive identification systems.

Eligible measures: with the reform of the CAP, these measures have been adapted to the changing needs of the sector. There are currently eight eligible measures to support the beekeeping sector:

  • technical assistance to beekeepers and beekeeping organisations;
  • combating hives and diseases of the hive, in particular varroasis:
  • rationalisation of transhumance;
  • support measures for laboratories analysing hive products;
  • aid for the restocking of the Union's beehive herd;
  • cooperation with specialised bodies for the implementation of applied research programmes in the field of apiculture and beekeeping products;
  • monitoring the production and prices of honey and beekeeping products;
  • improving the quality of the products in order to enhance the market value of the products.

Hives: according to the data provided in the 2014-2016 programmes, the EU had some 16 million hives. The five Member States with the largest number of hives are Spain, France, Greece, Romania and Italy.

With the reform of the CAP, the methods for allocating EU funds to the Member States on the basis of the number of hives present on their territory have been harmonised. The Union's contribution to the financing of beekeeping programmes is now allocated in proportion to the average total number of hives notified during the two calendar years immediately preceding the notification to the Commission of beekeeping programmes.

EU budget for national beekeeping programmes: for the 2013 beekeeping campaign, a total of EUR 64 million was made available to the beekeeping sector. For the 2014 and 2015 beekeeping campaigns, a total amount of EUR 66.2 million was made available for each marketing year.

The findings of the report show that all Member States have implemented national apiculture programmes and that more than 90% of the allocated Union funds have been used for the 2013, 2014 and 2015 beekeeping years. The Commission therefore concludes that the market measures put in place by the EU for the beekeeping sector are effective.

For the 2017-2019 beekeeping programmes, the available EU funds will increase to EUR 36 million per beekeeping campaign.

The report indicates that the first tangible effects of the reform will be visible from the start of the 2017-2019 bee programmes, which started in August 2016. It contains no new legal proposals.

The next report, expected in three years, will provide an opportunity to assess the impact of the new regulatory provisions introduced by the CAP reform in 2013.