28/07/2026 (Agence Europe) – The European Commission announced on Tuesday 28 July that it had approved an extension and a budget increase for a Spanish aid scheme aimed at supporting road transport companies facing rising fuel prices linked to the crisis in the Middle East. The initial €74 million scheme was approved on 29 June under the Temporary State Aid Framework linked to the crisis in the Middle East (‘METSAF’) (see EUROPE 13917/22). Initially intended to cover the period from March to June 2026, the scheme has been extended by three months so that it will also cover the period from July to August, the Commission said. The scheme’s budget has now been increased to €703 million. The Commission also said that the aid amounts had been adjusted to take account of the temporary reduction in national excise duties on hydrocarbons, but that the other conditions of the initial scheme remained unchanged. (BD)