On Wednesday 17 January, the European Commission announced that it had authorised two Czech State aid schemes with a budget of around €1.46 billion (CZK 35 billion) to support farmers in preventing the spread of poultry and pig diseases. The diseases concerned are avian influenza, salmonella and campylobacteriosis in poultry, and swine brucellosis, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome and salmonellosis.
The aid will reach eligible small and medium-sized enterprises in the form of direct subsidies covering up to 50% of eligible costs (cleaning of agricultural establishments and equipment, food and water treatment and veterinary interventions).
The aid was authorised under European State aid rules, in particular the 2022 Guidelines for State aid in the agriculture and forestry sector and in rural areas and Article 107(3)(c) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. (Original version in French by Émilie Vanderhulst)