The European Commission approved, on Thursday 28 May, €500 million in Spanish State aid for agricultural businesses facing rising fertiliser prices due to crisis in Middle East.
The scheme was approved under the Middle East Crisis Temporary State Aid Framework (METSAF) adopted by the Commission on 29 April.
The Spanish aid will apply until 31 December 2026. It will take the form of direct grants. Companies can receive €22 per hectare for dryland and €55 per hectare for irrigated land, for a maximum of 300 hectares per beneficiary. The aid will cover up to 70% of the additional fertiliser costs resulting from the Middle East crisis.
The scheme is in line with the conditions set out in METSAF: aid will be granted based on a scheme with a clear estimated budget, and aid will be provided to temporarily support the development of companies active in primary production of agricultural products. The support is “necessary, appropriate and proportionate” to facilitate the development of an economic activity and does not adversely affect trading conditions to an extent contrary to the common interest. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)