/ world today news/ BSP MEP Momchil Nekov demanded that member states be obliged to include organic products in the menu of students who receive breakfast under the European milk and fruit schemes at school, financed with funds from the Union budget.
Nekov made amendments to the position of the European Parliament, with which it will rule on the proposal of the European Commission to change the conditions for the operation of the two schemes.
The Bulgarian MEP insists that at least 10% of the food provided through the European support schemes should be of biological origin. By giving preference to clean products produced on the territory of the EU.
Thus, he wants to improve school meals and encourage the creation of healthy eating habits among adolescents.
With the amendment, Nekov aims to create prerequisites for stimulating organic production, the approval of which is a priority in his work as a member of the Commission for Agriculture and Rural Development in the European Parliament.
The socialist also believes that the European Commission should be interested in the success of the programs and track how they are implemented in the less developed and more remote European regions. The six Bulgarian planning regions are among the poorest in the EU.
In March, the agricultural commission of the EP will vote on the report on the support schemes for fruit and vegetables and milk at school, together with the amendments made to it. Its final adoption is scheduled for April.
The European Commission proposes the unification of the two schemes currently in effect – for milk and for fruit and vegetables at school. It aims to reduce the administrative obstacles for participating in the schemes and for reporting their implementation, as well as improving the efficiency of absorption of European funds. The European Commission believes that the new organization will improve the consumption of healthy foods, which is decreasing in Europe. If the proposal is accepted, 15% of the budget under this policy will be allocated to create healthy eating habits among adolescents. Preference will be given to European and seasonal products to encourage the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables instead of purees and juices.
The two school schemes have been introduced to promote the production and consumption of fruit and vegetables and dairy products in the EU. Each of these sectors of European agriculture represents approximately 15% of the value of EU agricultural output. The scheme has been in place for milk since 1977 and for fruit and vegetables since 2009.
In Bulgaria, fruits and vegetables have been given at school since 2010. For the academic year 2013/2014, 8.8 million were paid. BGN (100% of the program budget). 2,239 schools and nearly 320,000 children are covered. The scheme provides 14 types of fresh fruits and vegetables.
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What specific outcomes do you hope to see in students’ health and nutrition as a result of mandating organic products in school breakfast programs, and how will you measure these changes?
1. What inspired you to propose that member states be obliged to include organic products in the menu of students who receive breakfast under the European milk and fruit schemes at school, and how do you believe this will benefit the students’ health and well-being?
2. Can you explain the significance of including at least 10% of the food provided through the European support schemes as biological origin, and how does this fit into your larger goal of creating healthy eating habits among adolescents?
3. How do you anticipate your proposed amendment to create prerequisites for stimulating organic production, and what challenges do you foresee in achieving this goal?
4. In your view, what role should the European Commission play in ensuring the success of these programs, particularly in less developed and remote European regions? How can they effectively track implementation and allocate resources?
5. The European Commission’s proposal for the unification of the two school schemes has been met with some opposition from farmers who are worried about price controls and reduced profitability. As a member of the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee, how do you plan to address these concerns while still promoting the consumption of healthy foods among young people?
6. Given the ongoing debate surrounding the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables versus purees and juices, can you discuss the importance of promoting European and seasonal products under these schemes and how this aligns with promoting healthy eating habits?
7. As a Bulgarian MEP, how do you see the implementation of these school schemes in Bulgaria compared to other European countries, and what steps can be taken to ensure that they are effective in promoting the consumption of fresh produce among children?
8. what message would you like to send to other European policymakers regarding the importance of prioritizing healthy food options for students in schools, and how can we work together to make this a reality throughout the continent?
