Today, Member States gave a positive opinion to the Commission proposal to mobilise €98,6 million from the agricultural reserve to directly support farmers in Spain, Croatia, Cyprus, Latvia and Hungary who have been impacted by exceptional adverse climatic events and natural disasters since spring 2024.
The Commission will distribute €68 million to Spain, €16,2 million to Hungary, €6,7 million to Croatia, €4,2 million to Latvia and €3,5 million to Cyprus, of exceptional support.
This measure will help supporting farmers from these countries who have experienced a loss in production and, as a consequence, a loss of income. The above amounts demonstrate the EU's continued solidarity with affected farmers and can be complemented by up to 200% of national funds.
The national authorities must distribute this aid by 30 September 2025 and ensure that farmers are the ultimate beneficiaries. The five Member States will also have to notify the Commission by 31 May 2025 about the details of the measures' implementation. This includes the criteria used to determine the granting of individual aid, the intended impact of the measure, the forecasts for payments broken down per month until the end of September, and the level of additional support to be provided. The notification should also indicate the actions taken to avoid distortion of competition and overcompensation.
Next steps
Following today's approval by Member States, the Commission will adopt its proposal. It will then be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and enter into force the day following its publication so that the five concerned Member States can implement it without delay.
Background
Farmers in Spain, Croatia, Cyprus, Latvia and Hungary have witnessed significant damages and suffered economic losses due to adverse climatic events and natural disasters.
Spain experienced rain deficit and extreme heat during the summer of 2024, leading to drought. In late October and early November 2024, heavy storms caused by DANA brought exceptionally heavy rainfall and devastating floods, causing hundreds of casualties and marking the worst disaster to hit the Valencia region this century. The production in the fruit and vegetable, wine, olive, and livestock sectors were particularly impacted.
Cyprus experienced significant low rainfall and high temperatures in the first half of 2024, leading to dry conditions that affected the production in sectors such as cereals, olive and fruits and vegetables.
Latvia suffered a mix of record-low winter temperatures, spring frost, and heavy summer rain, impacting cereals, rapeseed, fruit, vegetables, and potatoes.
Croatia and Hungary faced extremely high temperatures and drought during summer of 2024, affecting maize, sunflower, soya, sugar beet, fruit, potatoes, and wine production.
The common agricultural policy (CAP) 2023-2027 includes an agricultural reserve of €450 million per year to cope with market disruptions or exceptional events affecting production or distribution. Due to the growing frequency of adverse climatic events, the Commission has emphasized the need to strengthen risk management tools and encourage their broader adoption across the Union, along with proactive measures to address underlying causes and enhance farm resilience in the medium term.
For More Information
Quote(s)
We cannot change what has already happened, but we can learn from it and be better prepared. Crisis support shows that EU institutions care and that European solidarity with our farmers is real. Today’s proposal is another proof of that. We stand with our farmers when they need it most. Looking ahead, we must strengthen climate risk preparedness and crisis management, making sure rural areas get the support they need. This means reinforcing risk management in agriculture for farmers across the EU while ensuring our response remains swift and targeted when crises strike.
Christophe Hansen, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food
Details
- Publication date
- 19 February 2025
- Author
- Representation in Cyprus