Press Release: State aid: Commission temporarily authorises Italy to grant limited amounts of aid up to €15,000 to farmers

The European Commission authorised on 3 February 2010 under the State aid rules an Italian scheme with a budget worth an estimated €320 million aimed at supporting farmers who encounter difficulties as a result of the current financial and economic crisis. Updated data and statistics provided by the Italian authorities showed the effect of the crisis on Italy's real economy and the impact of the economic downturn in the agriculture sector. Aid under this new scheme can be granted until 31 December 2010, it will be awarded by local, regional authorities and by public entities under different forms on condition that the aid is transparent. The Italian scheme was adopted following the amendment to the European Commission's Temporary Framework for state aid measures to support access to finance in the current financial and economic crisis. This amendment introduced the possibility of granting limited amounts of aid to primary agricultural producers.