European Commission allocates 50 million euros to struggling farmers
- The European Commission recently proposed an aid of nearly 50 million euros for farmers in six EU countries.
- The funds will support farmers whose crops were devastated by adverse weather events like late frosts and hail.
- This aid is crucial for the recovery of the agricultural sector in these regions and will be available by April 30, 2026.
Recently, the European Commission adopted a proposal to allocate nearly 50 million euros from the agricultural reserve to assist farmers in Bulgaria, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Romania. These countries faced significant damage to their fruit and vegetable sectors due to adverse climatic events such as late frosts, hail, and heavy rains. The funding breakdown includes 7.4 million euros for Bulgaria, 10.8 million euros for Hungary, 4.2 million euros for Latvia, 1.1 million euros for Lithuania, 14.8 million euros for Poland, and 11.5 million euros for Romania. The adverse weather conditions have culminated in substantial losses, directly impacting farmers' livelihoods and crop production. The Commissioner for Agriculture and the Food Sector, Christophe Hansen, emphasized the urgency of this aid, noting that it provides essential relief for farmers grappling with lost crops and income this year. To expedite support, it is crucial that beneficiaries receive emergency financial assistance quickly. Member states have been granted the option to complement this European Union support with up to 200% from their national funds, further assisting the affected agricultural sectors. Notably, payments from this aid must be completed by April 30, 2026, ensuring that farmers receive necessary financial backing swiftly to stabilize their operations. The initiative also highlights the resilience of European farmers against market disruptions that may affect production or distribution. The European Commission is expected to double the crisis reserve in the upcoming Common Agricultural Policy proposal for 2028-2034, aiming to bolster support for the agri-food sector moving forward. With 450 million euros being set aside annually as part of the current Common Agricultural Policy (2023-2027), the EU is taking significant steps to address these adverse events affecting farmers throughout the region.