The European Commission today made a proposal to grant financial aid in the amount of 119.7 million euros to support farmers in Bulgaria, Germany, Estonia, Italy and Romania. The measure is aimed at alleviating the damage caused by adverse natural conditions in spring and early summer this year. Of the total amount, Bulgaria will receive 10.9 million euros, while the largest part will be directed to Germany – 46.5 million euros. Italy will be supported with 37.4 million euros, Romania with 21.6 million euros and Estonia will receive 3.3 million euros.
According to the announcement from the European Commission, these funds can be increased by up to 200 percent through the national budgets of the respective countries, BTA specified. The aid must be paid by April 30, 2024, and by the end of this year the governments of the affected countries must specify to the Commission the conditions for granting the funds. The proposal must be approved by all member states of the European Union in October.
The European Commission emphasizes that the EU agricultural budget until 2027 has 450 million euros per year to deal with market disturbances or extraordinary events that affect agricultural production. In particular, Bulgaria was severely affected by the summer drought, which caused significant damage to spring crops, including maize and sunflowers.