Published in Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 21 ISSUE 2
Written by Agatha POPESCU, Toma Adrian DINU, Elena STOIAN, Valentin ȘERBAN

The paper analyzed honey production in the EU-28 in the period 2008-2019 using the data provided by FAOstat. Regression equations and average annual growth rate have pointed out a general increasing trend in honey production both at the EU level and in almost all member states. In 2019, the EU produced 280 thousand tonnes honey, of which 76.44% was carried out by the largest producing countries: Spain, Romania, Hungary, Germany, Greece, Poland, France, Italy, Bulgaria with over 10, 000 tonnes per year. Other countries like Portugal, United Kingdom, Czechia, Croatia, Austria had a moderate production ranging between 5 and 10 tonnes per year, and their share accounted for 12.07%. The remaining of 11.49% was assured by the other 12 countries. The average growth rate of honey production was 3.07 at the EU-28 level, but the highest growth of over 6% was registered in the Baltic countries, Croatia and Italy, and a moderate growth rate varying between 4 and 6% was recorded in the main producing countries and also by Czechia. Spain, France and Bulgaria had growth rates below 2%. In Denmark production stagnated, and in Austria, Ireland and Slovakia declined. Important EU funds are destined for the implementation of the national apiculture programmes 2020-2022 for sustainable beekeeping development, enhancing technical endowment, improving apiculturists' education level, sustaining young apiculturists, increasing the number of beehives and honey production level and quality and for assuring healthy and strong bee colonies. Bees have to continue to support agricultural production by pollination, rural areas development, a clean environment, balanced ecosystems and biodiversity preservation.

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