Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2675 of 10 October 2024 providing for emergency financial support for the agricultural sectors affected by adverse climatic events in Bulgaria, Germany, Estonia, Italy and Romania, in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council
Date: 2024-10-10
Institutions: Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission
Subjects: Bulgaria, EU aid, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Romania, aid to agriculture, crop losses, emergency aid, natural disaster




L_202402675EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
L series













2024/2675


10.10.2024







            COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2024/2675
of 10 October 2024
         
providing for emergency financial support for the agricultural sectors affected by adverse climatic events in Bulgaria, Germany, Estonia, Italy and Romania, in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council


THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,


Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 establishing a common organisation of the markets in agricultural products and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) No 922/72, (EEC) No 234/79, (EC) No 1037/2001 and (EC) No 1234/2007 (1), and in particular Article 221(1) thereof,

Whereas:







(1)


During the summer of 2024, Bulgaria was affected by adverse climatic events of unprecedent magnitude, namely unusually warm temperatures coupled with persistent drought conditions which severely affected the production of crops sown in spring, especially maize and sunflower, as well as unprecedent fires which affected the agricultural production in the impacted areas.












(2)


During the second half of the month of April 2024, parts of Germany were affected by an adverse climatic event of unprecedent magnitude, namely frost, which significantly damaged orchards and vines and therefore the production of certain fruits and wine.












(3)


During the month of July and in the beginning of the month of August 2024, parts of Estonia were affected by adverse climatic events of unprecedent magnitude, namely extremely intense rainfall events and floods, which were preceded by extraordinary adverse climatic conditions over the winter and spring of 2024. Frost and cold spell, with record cold temperatures during the months of December 2023 and January 2024, were followed by unusually warm temperatures as from March 2024, leading to drought conditions, and subsequently by frost events in early May 2024 and hail in early June 2024. These fluctuating extraordinary weather conditions affected the production of crops, in particular potatoes, rapeseed and fruit and vegetables.












(4)


During the first half of 2024, parts of Italy were affected by adverse climatic conditions of unprecedent magnitude. Unusually warm temperatures and drought conditions were recorded in the southern part of the country and the islands which severely affected the production in the fruit and vegetables, wine and arable crops, in particular the cereals sectors.












(5)


During the month of July 2024, parts of Romania were affected by adverse climatic events of unprecedent magnitude, namely heatwaves, accompanied by violent storms and heavy hail, which were followed by unusually warm temperatures and drought conditions, and caused significant damage to arable crop production. These extraordinary weather events severely affected the production of oilseeds and the cereals sector.












(6)


While there are indications that similar adverse climatic events occur throughout the Union in an overall context of increasing climate-change related risks to agriculture, the intensity of the events in Bulgaria, Germany, Estonia, Italy and Romania has been extraordinary, affecting a significant area and share of production.












(7)


The significant damages caused by these adverse climatic events to agricultural producers and the resulting loss of income for the affected producers in Bulgaria, Germany, Estonia, Italy and Romania endanger the economic viability of agricultural holdings.












(8)


An exceptional measure should therefore be adopted to contribute to addressing the specific problems in the wake of these adverse climatic events in Bulgaria, Germany, Estonia, Italy and Romania.












(9)


The significant damages and economic loss suffered by agricultural producers due to adverse climatic events constitute a specific problem within the meaning of Article 221 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 that cannot be readily addressed by measures taken pursuant to Articles 219 or 220 of that Regulation. The situation is not specifically linked to an identified unique market disturbance or a precise threat thereof. It is not linked either to measures that would combat the spread of animal diseases or the loss of consumer confidence due to public, animal or plant health risks.












(10)


The amounts made available to Bulgaria, Germany, Estonia, Italy and Romania should be determined, taking into account, in particular, the respective weight of those Member States in the Union’s agricultural sector, on the basis of the net ceilings for direct payments set out in Annex V to Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2), as well as the impact of the adverse climatic events in those Member States.












(11)


Bulgaria, Germany, Estonia, Italy and Romania should distribute the aid through the most effective channels on the basis of objective and non-discriminatory criteria that take account of the extent of the difficulties and actual economic damages faced by the farmers concerned. They should ensure that farmers are the ultimate beneficiaries of the aid and avoid any distortions of the market or of competition.












(12)


As the amounts allocated to Bulgaria, Germany, Estonia, Italy and Romania would address the economic difficulties faced by farmers only partially, the Member State should be allowed to grant additional national support to farmers, under the conditions set by this Regulation.












(13)


In order to give Bulgaria, Germany, Estonia, Italy and Romania the flexibility to distribute the aid as circumstances of the farmers concerned require, it should be allowed to cumulate that aid with other support financed by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development without overcompensating the farmers.












(14)


In order to avoid overcompensation, Bulgaria, Germany, Estonia, Italy and Romania should take into account the support granted under other national or Union support instruments or private schemes to respond to the economic losses suffered.












(15)


As the Union aid is fixed in euro, it is necessary, to ensure a uniform and simultaneous application, to fix a date for the conversion of the amount allocated to Member States not having adopted the euro as their national currencies, as it is the case for Bulgaria and Romania. Since this Regulation does not provide for a deadline for the submission of the applications for aid, it is appropriate to consider, for the purposes of Article 30(3) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/127 (3), the date of entry into force of this Regulation as the operative event for the exchange rate regarding the amounts set out in this Regulation.












(16)


For budgetary reasons, the Union should finance the expenditure incurred by Bulgaria, Germany, Estonia, Italy and Romania under this exceptional measure only where such expenditure is made by a certain eligibility date. The support for this exceptional measure should therefore be paid by 30 April 2025.












(17)


As no payments are to be made after 30 April 2025, Article 5(2) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/127, which provides for a proportional reduction of the monthly payments effected after the deadline, is not to apply.












(18)


Bulgaria, Germany, Estonia, Italy and Romania should communicate to the Commission detailed information about the implementation of this Regulation, to enable the Union to monitor the efficiency of the measure introduced by this Regulation.












(19)


In order to ensure that farmers receive aid as soon as possible, Bulgaria, Germany, Estonia, Italy and Romania should be enabled to implement this Regulation without delay. Therefore, this Regulation should enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.












(20)


The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for the Common Organisation of the Agricultural Markets,





HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:



Article 1

1.   Union aid of a total amount of EUR 119 700 000 shall be available to Bulgaria, Germany, Estonia, Italy and Romania to provide exceptional support to farmers subject to the conditions set out in this Regulation.


2.   The Union expenditure incurred in accordance with this Regulation shall not exceed a total amount of:






(a)


EUR 10 900 000 for Bulgaria;










(b)


EUR 46 500 000 for Germany;










(c)


EUR 3 300 000 for Estonia;










(d)


EUR 37 400 000 for Italy;










(e)


EUR 21 600 000 for Romania.






3.   Bulgaria, Germany, Estonia, Italy and Romania shall use the amounts referred to in paragraph 2 for measures aiming to compensate the most affected farmers in the sectors and productions impacted by adverse climatic events in the regions affected for the economic losses impacting on the viability of farmers.


4.   The measures referred to in paragraph 3 shall be taken on the basis of objective and non-discriminatory criteria that take account of the actual economic losses borne by the affected farmers and ensure that the resulting payments do not cause any market or competition distortion.


5.   Bulgaria, Germany, Estonia, Italy and Romania shall ensure that, when farmers are not the direct beneficiaries of the payments of the Union aid, the economic benefit of the Union aid is passed on to them in full.


6.   The expenditure borne by Bulgaria, Germany, Estonia, Italy and Romania referred to in paragraph 2 in relation to the payments for the measures referred to in paragraph 3 shall only be eligible for Union aid if those payments are made by 30 April 2025.


7.   Measures under this Regulation may be cumulated with other support financed by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.


8.   Bulgaria, Germany, Estonia, Italy and Romania may grant additional national support for the measures taken under paragraph 3 up to a maximum of 200 % of the respective amounts set out in paragraph 2, on the basis of objective and non-discriminatory criteria, provided that the resulting payments do not cause any market or competition distortion, or overcompensation. Bulgaria, Germany, Estonia, Italy and Romania shall pay the additional national support by 31 July 2025.


9.   In order to avoid overcompensation, when granting support under this Regulation, Bulgaria, Germany, Estonia, Italy and Romania shall take into account the support granted under other national or Union support instruments or private schemes to respond to the economic losses concerned.



Article 2

1.   Without delay, and no later than 31 December 2024, Bulgaria, Germany, Estonia, Italy and Romania shall notify to the Commission of the following, in relation to the measures referred to in Article 1(3):






(a)


a description of the measures to be taken;










(b)


the criteria used to determine the methods for granting the aid, its amounts and the rationale for distributing the aid across farmers;










(c)


the intended impact of the measures in view of compensating farmers for economic losses;










(d)


the actions taken to verify that the intended impact of the measures is reached;










(e)


the actions taken to avoid distortion of competition and overcompensation;










(f)


the forecast for payments of the Union expenditure broken-down per month until 30 April 2025;










(g)


the level of additional national support to be granted pursuant to Article 1(8);










(h)


the actions to be taken to control the eligibility of farmers and to protect the financial interests of the Union.






2.   No later than 31 October 2025, Bulgaria, Germany, Estonia, Italy and Romania shall notify the Commission of the total amounts paid per measure, when applicable, broken down by Union aid and additional national support, the number and type of beneficiaries and the assessment of the effectiveness of the measure.



Article 3
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.




This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 10 October 2024.


For the Commission


The President

Ursula VON DER LEYEN
            





(1)  
            OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 671, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2013/1308/oj.

(2)  Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 2 December 2021 establishing rules on support for strategic plans to be drawn up by Member States under the common agricultural policy (CAP Strategic Plans) and financed by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and repealing Regulations (EU) No 1305/2013 and (EU) No 1307/2013 (OJ L 435, 6.12.2021, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/2115/oj).

(3)  Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/127 of 7 December 2021 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2021/2116 of the European Parliament and of the Council with rules on paying agencies and other bodies, financial management, clearance of accounts, securities and use of euro (OJ L 20, 31.1.2022, p. 95, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2022/127/oj).


ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2024/2675/oj
ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)