Compensation for arable and livestock farmers in Evros for flood losses

Extreme weather conditions and floods have severely damaged arable and livestock production in Evros. According to a memorandum filed with the Greek Ministry of Productive Reconstruction, Environment and Energy, 220 000 decares are currently under water and this has delayed the start of sugar beet, cotton and corn planting, which normally begins in April. It has also made it impossible to harvest 50% of the asparagus crop.

Rural roads have also been damaged. According to the above memorandum, repairs will cost an estimated EUR 200 000 in Orestiada, EUR 150 000 in Didimoteicho and EUR 150 000 in Soufli.

Livestock farming has also been hard hit. Approximately 5 000 sheep have been stranded outside their farm and are in desperate need of fodder, which will cost EUR 60 000, and 40 273 goats and sheep have been killed by the bluetongue virus in the Regional District of Evros as a whole.

In view of the above, will the Commission say:

What measures does it intend to approve to compensate livestock farmers in Evros for the damage caused to their production by the catastrophic floods at 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