The European Parliament adopted by 644 votes to 6, with 3 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2020/2220 as regards specific measures under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) to provide additional assistance to Member States affected by natural disasters.
The European Parliament adopted its position at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure, taking over the Commission proposal.
The proposed regulation will help to address and mitigate the impact of natural disasters on the Union agri-food and forestry sectors by providing exceptional temporary support through the EAFRD.
The amending regulation introduces a new measure to allow Member States to provide liquidity support to farmers, forest holders and SMEs active in processing of agricultural and forestry products affected by natural disasters occurring as of 1 January 2024.
The support will take the form of a lump sum payment to be paid by 31 December 2025, based on applications for support approved by the competent authority by 30 June 2025. The new measure can be co-financed up to 100% with EAFRD and the maximum share of Union contribution is 10% of the total EAFRD contribution to the rural development programme for the years 2021-2022. The support should be provided only to those beneficiaries which were affected by a destruction of at least 30% of the relevant production potential as a result of a formally recognised natural disaster.
Support will be granted to:
- farmers;
- private and public forest holders and other private law and public bodies and their associations, excluding State-owned forest managed by the State;
- SMEs active in the processing, marketing or development of agricultural products covered by Annex I to the TFEU or cotton, except fishery products; or
- SMEs active in the processing, mobilising and marketing of forest products.
The maximum amount of support will not exceed EUR 42 000 per beneficiary.
The regulation gives Member States the possibility to simplify procedures by considering the whole area to be gravely affected by a natural disaster when applying for “force majeure”.