EUROPE: The winter wheat area has increased significantly this year in the EC but dropped in the major producing eastern European countries. Weather conditions have been generally favourable throughout western and eastern countries for the winter crops and spring fieldwork so far. In the European CIS prospects for winter and spring grain harvest this year are favourable. With good weather conditions, larger sown areas and general availability of agricultural inputs, the 2002 cereal harvest is anticipated to be at least as large as the recovered harvest in 2001.