More than €56 million was approved today (Monday 22 June) to support European farmers affected by extreme weather events.
Member States have approved a proposal from the European Commission to mobilize funding from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) agricultural reserve.
As part of the response, farmers from Portugal will receive €30 million, Romania €14.8 million, Cyprus €4.6 million, Croatia €4.4 million and Slovenia €2.8 million.
Throughout 2025 and into the first half of 2026, farmers in these countries experienced significant damage and suffered economic losses due to adverse weather events and natural disasters.
Farmers
At the beginning of the year, Storm Christine brought heavy rains, strong winds and flooding to Portugal causing damage and destruction of farmland and infrastructure.
In Romania, severe drought and recurring heatwaves between June and August 2025 affected maize and sunflower yields.
In May 2025, extreme heat and prolonged drought in Cyprus caused significant crop losses and high animal feed costs.
The spring and summer of 2025 brought freezing temperatures to Croatia, along with heavy rainfall and drought, damaging crops such as fruits, vines and sugar beets.
Severe spring frosts in Slovenia have damaged apple production.
Finance
The committee said the funding would support farmers affected by “significant damage caused by adverse climate events.”
The support will target farmers of fruit, nuts, vines, olives and arable crops, including mixed livestock producers.
The allocated budget can be supplemented by up to 200% of national funds.
The Commission said member states receiving funding must ensure that farmers receive support quickly with aid that will be distributed by February 28, 2027 at the latest.
Member States will need to inform the Committee of the criteria used to determine individual aid grants, expectations for payments distributed monthly, and the level of additional support to be provided.
Countries will also need to list measures taken to avoid distortion of competition and over-compensation.
EU Commissioner for Agriculture Christoph Hansen. Source: European Union
European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, Christoph HansenFarmers in Europe are “paying an increasingly high price due to extreme weather,” he said.
“Climate shocks have become the new reality for agriculture.
“Protecting food security in Europe means investing in the resilience of our agriculture.
“Building that resilience – through stronger risk management and better preparedness for climate shocks – will be at the heart of our future common agricultural policy,” he said.
