The European Commission authorised, on Thursday 7 July, a €1.2 billion Italian scheme made available through the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) to support investments in photovoltaic panels in the agricultural sector.
According to the Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, “not only will the measure contribute to European Green Deal objectives, but it will also support the economic development of rural areas in Italy, while limiting possible distortions of competition”.
The Italian scheme will run until 30 June 2026. The aid will take the form of direct grants covering up to 90% of eligible investment costs. These costs are subject to ceilings depending on the capacity of the photovoltaic installation. Beneficiaries can only invest in photovoltaic capacities not exceeding their energy needs.
The Commission found that the scheme facilitates the development of certain economic activities, has an ‘incentive effect’ and a limited impact on competition and trade within the EU. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)