Compensation for producers in the Prefecture of Serres for damage caused by extreme weather conditions

The extreme weather conditions and heavy rainfall that swept through the Prefecture of Serres recently caused extensively damage. More than 40 000 decares of farmland were flooded and irrigation and drainage networks and rural roads and bridges were damaged. Pumping stations were submerged under deep water and subsidence and cracks have been identified in the embankments of the River Strymon.

To put the extent of the rainfall into perspective, the waters in Lake Kerkini are very high, meaning that the possibility of opening the dam to allow the water that has accumulated in the lake to disperse is still being considered.

In view of the above, will the Commission say:

What measures does it intend to approve for the residents of the Prefecture of Serres in order to compensate producers for the damage to their crops and repair the damage sustained by public infrastructure as a result of the extremely heavy rainfall and to what timetable?

Source: European Parliament

Joint answer given by Mr Hogan on behalf of the Commission

A number of options are available to Member States for addressing situations resulting from extreme weather conditions such as the extremely heavy rainfall and the floods that the Honourable Member is referring to:

In Rural Development Programmes(1) co-financed by the EU, Member States can introduce measures providing support for risk management including insurance contracts and mutual funds which can be used in case of adverse climatic events, plant diseases and pests. Additionally, Member States may consider using the income stabilisation tool to compensate for severe drops in income or provide support for restoring the agricultural production potential damaged by adverse climatic events(2).

A Member State can also decide to provide support from own resources, in accordance with the applicable state aid rules(3) or based on the de minimis regulation(4).

Moreover, the EU Solidarity Fund could contribute to the repair of essential public infrastructure. The Commission will assess this possibility as soon as the Greek authorities submit an application to mobilise the Fund.

(1) http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:02013R1305-20140101&rid=1 (2) The use of these instruments is conditional on the inclusion by the competent national authorities of the relevant measures in the Rural Development Programmes. (3) In particular, under conditions provided for in Section 1.2.1.2 Aid to compensate for damage caused by adverse climatic event which can be assimilated to a natural disaster of the European Union Guidelines for state aid in the agricultural and forestry sectors and in rural areas 2014-2020 (OJ C 204, 1.7.2014, p. 1) and/or in Article 25 Aid to compensate for damage caused by adverse climatic event which can be assimilated to a natural disaster of the Commission Regulation (EU) No 702/2014 of 25.6.2014 declaring certain categories of aid in the agricultural and forestry sectors and in rural areas compatible with the internal market in application of Article 107 and 108 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (OJ L 193, 1.7.2014, p. 1). (4) Commission Regulation (EU) No 1408/2013 of 18.12.2013 on the application of Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to de minimis aid in the agriculture sector (OJ L 352, 24.12.2013, p. 9).

Source: European Parliament