Brussels, 28 March 2024
The European Commission has approved an amendment to an existing Italian scheme, including a €150 million budget increase, to support companies in the agricultural, forestry, fishery and aquaculture sectors in the region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, in the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine. The amendment of the scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework, adopted by the Commission on 9 March 2023 and amended on 20 November 2023, to support measures in sectors which are key to accelerate the green transition and reduce fuel dependencies.
The Commission approved the original scheme on 22 April 2022 (SA.102522). Under the scheme, the aid takes the form of direct grants and subsided loans. The measure is open to companies active in the agricultural (including primary production, processing and marketing of agricultural products), forestry, fishery and aquaculture sectors in the region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, that are at risk of losing financial liquidity due to the difficulties in the markets provoked by the Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Italy notified one amendment to the existing scheme, consisting solely of a budget increase of €150 million leading to an overall budget of €250 million. The Commission concluded that the amended scheme remains 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 Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework. On this basis, the Commission approved the amendment under EU State aid rules.
More information on the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework and other actions taken by the Commission to address the economic impact of Russia’s war against Ukraine and foster the transition towards a net-zero economy can be found here. The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under the case number SA.113201 in the State aid register on the Commission’s competition website once any confidentiality issues have been resolved.
Source – EU Commission