Brussels, 18/09/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the Greek Government was authorised by the European Commission to pay national aid for a total of EUR 171.6 million to farmers, fishermen and fish farmers who suffered the adverse effects of the severe bad weather in the winter of 2001/02. The national aid scheme is intended to help restore damaged production potential (replanting of trees and repair of damage to property), and to compensate for lost production. Community rules on State aid in these sectors stipulate that, where a natural disaster can be proven, compensation can be considered compatible with the common market provided it does not lead to over-compensation for the damage suffered.