Brussels, 17 October 2024
The European Commission has approved an approximately €84 million (BGN 164 million) Bulgarian scheme to support producers of grain and oilseed crops, and an approximately €84.9 million (BGN 166 million) scheme to support farmers in the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine. The schemes were approved under the State aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework (‘TCTF’), adopted by the Commission on 9 March 2023 and amended on 20 November 2023 and on 2 May 2024.
Under the schemes, the aid will consist in limited amounts of aid in the form of direct grants. The first measure will be open to producers of certain grain and oilseed crops (namely wheat, barley, rapeseed, corn and sunflower) that are at risk of losing financial liquidity due to the difficulties in the agricultural market provoked by Russia’s war against Ukraine. The second measure will be open to primary agricultural producers active in the sectors of large and small ruminants, bee colonies, fruit and vegetables, oilseed rose, vineyards and tobacco that are facing liquidity shortage and are directly affected by the serious disturbance of the economy provoked by Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The Commission found that the Bulgarian schemes are in line with the conditions set out in the TCTF. In particular, the aid (i) does not exceed €280,000 per beneficiary; and (ii) is granted no later than 31 December 2024. The Commission concluded that the schemes are necessary, appropriate and proportionate to remedy a serious disturbance in the economy of a Member State, in line with Article 107(3)(b) TFEU and the conditions set out in the TCTF. On this basis, the Commission approved the schemes under EU State aid rules.
More information on the TCTF can be found here. The non-confidential version of the decisions will be made available under the case number SA.116093 and SA.116092 in the State aid register on the Commission’s competition website once any confidentiality issues have been resolved.