The European Commission (EC) has announced further funding of €39 million (US$49.2 million) for farmers hit by Russia's import ban, in a bid to promote their agricultural products within the union and elsewhere.

The deal comes a month after the EC pledged €165 million (US$209 million) in emergency funding to ease oversupply pressures, including the use of EC-funded withdrawals or payments below the rate for green harvesting.

The commission's new funding contributes to more than half of a total three-year budget worth €77 million (US$97 million), covering 27 programs.

"I am pleased to confirm our support for these new promotion programmes, including sheepmeat for the first time. I hope they will boost consumption and sales at this difficult time," EU Agriculture Commissioner Dacian Cioloş said in a release.

"In the course of the last 5 years, we have become a net exporter of agri food products, with the value of exports accelerating faster than the volume, as consumers in other parts of the world appreciate the traditions, quality standards and tastes of Europe.

"These new measures will further enhance that reputation."

The EC highlighted it had received 43 proposals within the information and promotion program by June 15, of which 27 were chosen. Of these, 21 target the internal market while six focus on other regions and countries such as North America, Latin America, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Japan, North Africa and Turkey.

Some of the more notable EC contributions in these programs include €3.13 million (US$3.95 million) for French group Interfel to promote fresh fruit and vegetables domestically; €2.5 million (US$3.15 million) for the Polish Association of Juice Producers for programs in the Eastern Bloc, and €2.19 million (US$2.76 million) for promoting fresh produce in Austria.

Click here for more stories relating to Russia's ban on food imports from the EU, the U.S., Canada, Australia and Norway.

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