No European money for damage caused by bluetongue

David Clarinval, the federal minister of Agriculture of Belgium, had urged the European Commission to do this together with the Flemish minister of Agriculture Jo Brouns and the Walloon minister of Agriculture Anne-Catherine Dalcq. These ministers had placed their hopes on the European agricultural crisis reserve for Belgian livestock farmers. But the European Commission does not want to release any money from this to compensate livestock farmers. Belgium allegedly does not meet the conditions for this. Many sheep and cattle have been affected by the bluetongue virus, especially in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, but also in other European countries. There is a lot of mortality in sheep and milk production in dairy cattle is also declining. The Netherlands has not applied to the European Commission for a contribution from the agricultural crisis fund. More countries LTO Nederland regrets this. 'An application is the least you can do', says sector specialist Kostijn van ...