On Monday 22 August, the European Commission authorised an Italian aid scheme worth €600,000 to support the vine nursery sector in the autonomous province of Trento.
The objective of the support is to improve the competitiveness of vine nurseries in the context of the global economic crisis, to assist vine nurseries in the fight against pathogens and the increased use of alternatives to pesticides, and to improve the performance and sustainability of vine nurseries by reducing production costs.
The aid will be open to small and medium-sized enterprises operating in the vine nursery sector in Trento. The aid will take the form of a direct grant of up to 40% of eligible costs. The scheme will run until 31 December 2022.
The Commission assessed the measure under EU State aid rules, in particular the guidelines for State aid in the agriculture and forestry sector and in rural areas. It concluded that the scheme was necessary and appropriate to maintain the competitiveness of local wine producers. Furthermore, the Commission found the scheme to be proportionate, as the amount of aid is limited to the minimum necessary and the aid will not have any unintended negative effects on competition and trade in the EU. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)