The European Commission on Tuesday proposed a scheme to provide free fruit and vegetables for school children across the European Union (EU).

EU funds worth 90 million euros would pay for the purchase and distribution of fresh fruit and vegetables to schools every year. This amount would be matched by national funds in member states choosing to participate in the program.

The scheme aims to encourage good eating habits among youngsters, thus tackling obesity, said the commission, the EU's executive body.

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.

"This proposal shows we are serious about taking concrete steps to fight obesity," said Mariann Fischer Boel, EU commissioner for agriculture and rural development.

"Giving kids good habits at an early age is crucial as they will carry these into later life. Too many of our children eat far too little fruit and vegetables and often don't appreciate how delicious they are," she said.

An estimated 22 million children in the EU are overweight. More than 5 million of these are obese and the figure is expected to rise by 400,000 every year, said the commission. (1 euro=1.569 US dollars)

(Xinhua News Agency July 9, 2008)