Over the next three years, the European Commission will provide 120 million euros of support to the European Union's beekeeping sector. This is 12 million euros more than was allocated for the period from 2017 to 2019.

EU Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan, commenting on this decision, said: “Beekeeping is an important part of the EU agri-food sector, helping to maintain jobs in our rural areas.

Bees are also vital for the sustainability of our agriculture and for healthy ecosystems. It should be welcomed that the Common Agricultural Policy, working in conjunction with other key European and national funds, currently provides more effective tools to support the sector. ”

EU support, doubled by Member State contributions, will apply to national beekeeping programs starting on August 1, 2019 and continuing through July 31, 2022.

These programs are developed at the national level in order to improve the conditions for the full functioning of the beekeeping sector and marketing their products.

The programs include, in particular, training for beekeepers, support in opening a beekeeping business, combating parasites that harm the hives, as well as research and measures to improve the quality of honey.

In 2018, there were 600,000 beekeepers in the EU on more than 17.5 million beehives. Beekeeping is practiced in all EU member states, and the European Union is the second largest honey producer in the world.