Poland has applied to the European Commission for another aid package for its apple and pear growers who have suffered under an embargo on EU produce imposed by Moscow, Polish Press Agency (PAP) reported Friday.

Warsaw wants to discuss the issue of withdrawing excessive fruit from the market at a meeting of EU agriculture ministers planned for Monday.

In its letter sent to the EU's Maltese presidency, the Polish government expressed concern over the developments on the fruit market and said Polish fruit growers were hurting as a result of the Russian embargo.

According to PAP's unofficial sources, the government would like to raise the amount of fruit that can be withdrawn from the market in return for compensation. The Commission has already agreed to offer Poland a small increase in February.

So far, the growers who have been unable to sell their fruit mostly offer it to charity and receive moderate compensation for the produce.

Poland is the biggest apple producer in Europe, with the total harvest at about four million tonnes last year.

The Russian government imposed its embargo on EU produce in August 2014 in retaliation for sanctions against Russia by the EU for the country's involvement in the conflict in Ukraine. Endit

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