EU funds to Italy have been increased for the European School Fruit Scheme: from 9.5 million euros to more than 15 million.

"This is a good news from Brussels, which allows us to further expand this important initiative to help educate young people to a healthy and correct diet" commented the Italian minister for Agriculture Luca Zaia. "We will ensure that fruit distribution in schools will be made according to the seasonm, and that local products will be favoured. In this way health is combined with the concept of production identity and environmental protection" added the minister, with satisfaction.

The Management Committee CMO Unica-Ortofrutta, gave a favorable opinion to the draft Regulation of the European Commission, which allocates more resources to the Member States for the implementation of the European School Fruit Scheme, adopted by the Council with the Regulation (EC) No 13/2009.

The European Commission accepted the Italian request to increase the contributions already allocated by the EU to Italy, which from 9.5 million euro increased to 15,206,370 euros. A figure to which a further 11 million euros may be added, with national funds as co-financing, for a total funfing of 26 million euros.