29/07/2025 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 29 July, the European Commission concluded that the aid granted in 2018 by the Czech Republic to certain large agricultural companies for the payment of insurance premiums does not comply with EU State aid rules. The Czech authorities will have to recover the sums concerned, including interest. An in-depth investigation by the Commission revealed that some large farms had erroneously been considered to be SMEs, allowing them to unduly benefit from support intended for the agricultural sector. The aid aimed at supporting crop and livestock farms in taking out insurance against natural disasters and adverse weather conditions. Insurance is an effective risk management tool, which provides increased protection against unforeseeable damage. This aid made this insurance broadly available to the primary agricultural production sector. (LC)