EUROPE: Output of wheat in the EC is forecast to increase sharply this year reflecting a significant expansion in the winter wheat area and generally favourable weather but coarse grains output could decline marginally. In eastern Europe most countries are expected to harvest cereal crops similar to or smaller than the previous year. Despite generally favourable weather in most parts, plantings have declined in some countries. In the European CIS, cereal production is estimated to decline by some 15 million tonnes due to unfavourable weather conditions in the Russian Federation and Ukraine.