On Wednesday 23 April, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a targeted amendment to the 2013 regulation laying down specific measures for agriculture in the outermost regions of the Union (POSEI Regulation), to benefit Mayotte, which was devastated by Cyclone Chido on 18 December.
In this way, the Commission hopes to enable Mayotte to “effectively address the liquidity needs of the rural population heavily damaged in the described natural disasters” (see EUROPE 13548/12).
It is proposed to amend the regulation to allow the competent national authorities to submit an exceptional modification to their POSEI programme while they apply the principle of force majeure or exceptional circumstances, in cases where, as a result of the unexpected severe natural disaster, the agricultural production capacity was seriously or totally destroyed, and the restoration of certain sectors requires a longer period than could be covered by the application of the principle of force majeure or exceptional circumstances. This should allow the beneficiaries concerned to continue to receive POSEI support during the restoration period, irrespective of the level of their activity, but subject to their formal commitment to restore their agricultural production capacity.
The implementation of this programme modification will be subject to annual review and monitoring of progress in close cooperation between the Commission and the Member State.
For the rural development programme of Mayotte, it is proposed to remove the limit of 10% of the 2021 and 2022 budgetary allocations for temporary support in response to the impact of natural disasters funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and allow the selection of the beneficiaries beyond the deadline of 30 June 2025.
Link to the proposal: https://aeur.eu/f/gi6 (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)