Geographical Distribution of the Gross Earned Premiums (M EUR)
 

 
2009 2008
Benelux 65,9 29,8% 65.1 29.9%
Northern Europe 21,6 9,7% 16.6 7.6%
Central Europe 13,4 6,0% 11.5 5.3%
Southern Europe 119,5 53,9% 123.5 56.8%
Rest of the world 1,3 0,6% 0.8 0.4%

The drop in premium income in Southern Europe mainly originates from the cancellation of proportional business as a result of the logical application of cycle management. The combination of further decreasing insurance rates on the one hand and stable or increasing commissions on the other has resulted in these treaties becoming unprofitable. In the other regions the premium income remains stable or even increases somewhat.