Brussels, 24/10/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 24 October, the European Commission announced that it was preparing to grant €7.6 million in aid from the EU Solidarity Fund to help Cyprus meet emergency costs resulting from damage caused by an exceptionally severe drought which hit the island in 2007 and 2008. The aid from the Commission will mainly help reimburse costs of emergency measures such as the transport of water from Greece. On Monday 20 October, the EU Council of Ministers had, moreover, adopted without debate a decision approving the aid that Cyprus will provide for its farmers whose harvests have been devastated by the drought. European agriculture minsters had reached a political agreement to provide State aid to Cyprus on 29 September this year (EUROPE 9751). The aid will amount to €67.5 million to the benefit of 34 000 farmers and 3 000 cattle farmers. (L.C./transl.jl)