Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/847 of 16 April 2026 providing for emergency financial support for the agricultural sectors affected by adverse climatic events in Bulgaria, Estonia and Hungary, in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council
Date: 2026-04-16
Institutions: Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission
Subjects: Bulgaria, EU aid, Estonia, Hungary, aid to agriculture, crop losses, emergency aid, natural disaster




L_202600847EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
L series













2026/847


17.4.2026







            COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2026/847
of 16 April 2026
         
providing for emergency financial support for the agricultural sectors affected by adverse climatic events in Bulgaria, Estonia and Hungary, 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 2025 growing season, Bulgaria experienced extreme adverse weather conditions. In particular, from the second half of June until the end of August, Bulgaria witnessed a severe deterioration in agrometeorological conditions, marked by intense droughts and heatwaves. The prolonged hot and dry weather had a detrimental impact on sunflower and maize production.












(2)


During the 2025 growing season, the conditions in Estonia proved particularly challenging, which began with a spring frost that impacted multiple areas. The cold weather persisted throughout the growing season, accompanied by unusually high precipitation and alternating cold spells followed by unexpectedly high temperatures. These adverse conditions had a detrimental impact on the production of spring wheat, barley, field peas, spring rapeseed, potatoes and crops falling within the scope of the fruit and vegetables sector.












(3)


During the 2025 growing season, Hungary encountered adverse weather conditions. There were extremely high temperatures and water shortages from June to August which resulted in severe heat stress to crops. This adversely affected the production of sweetcorn, melons, sorghum, oil radish, maize and popcorn maize.












(4)


While there are indications that similar adverse climatic events occur throughout the Union, in the overall context of increasing climate-change risks related to agriculture, the intensity of these events in Bulgaria, Estonia and Hungary has been extraordinary, affecting a significant cultivated area and quantities produced.












(5)


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












(6)


An exceptional measure should therefore be adopted to address the specific problems in the wake of these adverse climatic events and natural disasters in Bulgaria, Estonia and Hungary.












(7)


The significant damages and economic losses 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.












(8)


The amounts made available to Bulgaria, Estonia and Hungary 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.












(9)


Bulgaria, Estonia and Hungary 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 affected farmers. They should ensure that the affected farmers are the ultimate beneficiaries of the aid and avoid any distortions of the market or of competition.












(10)


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












(11)


In order to give Bulgaria, Estonia and Hungary the flexibility to distribute the aid as the circumstances of the affected farmers 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 affected farmers.












(12)


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












(13)


As the Union aid is fixed in euro, to ensure a uniform and simultaneous application, it is necessary to fix a date for the conversion of the amount allocated to a Member State that has not adopted the euro as national currency, as is the case for Hungary. 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.












(14)


In order to ensure the effectiveness of this exceptional measure, beneficiaries should rapidly receive the emergency financial support. Additionally, a timely monitoring of the budget as well as an up-to-date follow up and efficient use of the agricultural reserve, thereby maximising its availability and enhancing the capacity to respond promptly to emerging crises, should be ensured. Therefore, it is appropriate to define an eligibility date for Member States to pay this support to the beneficiaries. Any payments made after this date should be considered ineligible for Union financing.












(15)


The Union should therefore finance the expenditure incurred by Bulgaria, Estonia and Hungary 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 September 2026.












(16)


As no payments made after 30 September 2026 are to be considered eligible under any circumstances, 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.












(17)


Bulgaria, Estonia and Hungary 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.












(18)


In order to ensure that farmers receive aid as soon as possible, Bulgaria, Estonia and Hungary should 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.












(19)


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 21 500 000 shall be available to Bulgaria, Estonia and Hungary 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 7 400 000 for Bulgaria;










(b)


EUR 3 300 000 for Estonia;










(c)


EUR 10 800 000 for Hungary.






3.   Bulgaria, Estonia and Hungary shall use the amounts referred to in paragraph 2 for measures aiming to compensate the most affected farmers for their economic losses impacting on the viability of their farms.
The following agricultural crops or sectors are eligible for support:






(a)


in Bulgaria: sunflower and maize;










(b)


in Estonia: spring wheat, barley, field peas, spring rapeseed, potatoes and crops falling in the scope of the fruit and vegetables sector;










(c)


in Hungary: sweetcorn, melons, sorghum, oil radish, maize and popcorn maize.






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. The measures shall be of such a nature that the resulting payments do not cause any market or competition distortion.


5.   Bulgaria, Estonia and Hungary shall ensure that, where farmers are not the direct beneficiaries of the payments of the Union aid, the economic benefit of the Union aid is passed on to the farmers in full.


6.   The expenditure borne by Bulgaria, Estonia and Hungary 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 September 2026.


7.   For the purposes of Article 30(3) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/127, the operative event for the exchange rate as regards the amounts set out in Article 1(2), point (c), of this Regulation shall be the date of entry into force of this Regulation.


8.   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.


9.   Bulgaria, Estonia and Hungary 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, Estonia and Hungary shall pay the additional national support by 31 December 2026.


10.   In order to avoid overcompensation, when granting support under this Regulation, Bulgaria, Estonia and Hungary 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 30 June 2026, Bulgaria, Estonia and Hungary shall notify 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 methods and rationale for distributing the aid to 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 September 2026;










(g)


the level of additional national support to be granted pursuant to Article 1(9);










(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 March 2027, Bulgaria, Estonia and Hungary 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 an 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, 16 April 2026.


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/2026/847/oj
ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)