On Friday, 3 May, the European Commission announced that it had approved a French aid scheme—with an €80 million budget—that aims to support vineyards in southern France that are faced with market disruption in an economic context that has been worsened by the consequences of Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine.
The European Commission felt that this difficult context could jeopardise the continued existence of numerous vineyards in that region.
Eligible companies will receive aid in the form of direct grants, which will not exceed €280,000 per beneficiary. The aid will need to be granted by 30 June 2024 at the latest.
The European Commission concluded that this measure was necessary, appropriate, and proportionate to remedy a serious disturbance in this Member State’s economy and that it proved to be in compliance with European law on State aid and, more specifically, with the [Temporary] Crisis and Transition Framework and Article 107(3)(b) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU. (Original version in French by Émilie Vanderhulst)