EU approves €20m funding for Italian agriculture and fisheries hit by higher fuel and fertiliser prices.
The European Commission has approved a €20 million State aid scheme to support agricultural, fishing, and aquaculture companies in the Italian region of Friuli Venezia Giulia.
The financial assistance aims to mitigate the burden on primary producers affected by rising fuel and fertilizer costs resulting from ongoing Middle East regional instability.
The approval was granted under the Middle East Crisis Temporary State Aid Framework (METSAF), which was adopted by the Commission on April 29, 2026.
Structure and Limits of the Aid Scheme
The relief scheme will run through December 31, 2026, and will be disbursed directly by the autonomous region of Friuli Venezia Giulia:
- Form of Support: Direct cash grants and subsidized loans.
- Agricultural Sector Calculation: Determined based on total land area used for primary agricultural production.
- Fisheries & Aquaculture Calculation: Calculated using estimated fuel consumption for primary operations.
- Cap Per Beneficiary: Capped at a maximum of €50,000 per company.
Regulatory Assessment
The Commission evaluated the regional measures under EU State aid rules, specifically invoking Article 107(3)(c) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU) alongside Sections 1 and 2.1 of the METSAF framework.
Regulators determined that the initiative has a clearly defined budget, is targeted to preserve essential primary production, and is both necessary and proportionate to resolve economic strains without distorting competition within the internal EU market.
Further administrative details and non-confidential versions of the decision will be made available under case number SA.123315 in the EU State Aid Register.
