The European Commission today (9 July) proposed to establish an EU-wide scheme to provide free fruit and vegetables to school children.

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European funds worth EUR90m (US$141.2m) annually would pay for the purchase and distribution of the fruit and vegetables, with the money matched by national funds in member states choosing to make use of the programme.


This is the latest stage in the Commission’s efforts to improve health and nutrition, as set out in its “Strategy for Europe on Nutrition, Overweight and Obesity and related health issues”.


Besides providing free fruit and vegetables, the scheme would require participating member states to set up national strategies including educational and awareness-raising initiatives and the sharing of best practice.


The proposal follows an undertaking made during the negotiations on the reform of the Common Market Organisation for fruit and vegetables last June. Since then, the Commission has engaged in a wide-ranging public consultation and an in-depth impact assessment of different options.

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The programmes would be co-financed, either on a 50/50 basis, or 75/25 in the so-called “convergence regions”, where GDP per capita is lower. This money could not be used to replace existing national financing, but would encourage additional activities, be it linked to existing programmes or creating completely new initiatives, the Commission said.


The proposal will now be sent to the European Council and European Parliament and, if approved, would begin at the start of the 2009/2010 school year.