Recent spell of bad weather in Italy – call for farmers to be given financial aid to compensate for damage to vegetable crops

Subject: Recent spell of bad weather in Italy – call for farmers to be given financial aid to compensate for damage to vegetable crops

In December 2021 and the first weeks of 2022, Italy experienced a period of bad weather, with Arctic winds sweeping through open fields of vegetables. Reaching even the lowlands, the cold spell affected winter crops such as savoy and other types of cabbage, chicory and broccoli. Although these plants can withstand sub-zero conditions, if the temperature drops too quickly or frosts last too long, they can suffer considerable damage. To add to this burden, farmers are also facing economic losses owing to the soaring energy prices, which are making it more expensive to heat greenhouses for growing vegetables. According to the Italian farmers’ association Coldiretti, the damage incurred amounts to over EUR 2 billion.

In view of the above, will the Commission provide adequate financial aid to support Italian farmers who have been hit hard by the recent spell of bad weather?

Answer given by Mr Wojciechowski on behalf of the European Commission (23 February 2022)

It is for national authorities to determine whether the conditions are fulfilled to declare the areas affected by natural calamities, assess the damages to farmers and to see if they are entitled to compensation and under which form.

There are risk management instruments that could be activated by member states under Common Agricultural Policy.

The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) may provide support for farmers under measure 5 of a Rural Development Programme (RDP) to prevent and restore agricultural land and production damaged by natural disasters, adverse climatic events and catastrophic events (1), provided that competent authorities have recognised the catastrophic event or the natural disaster.

Risk management tools under measure 17 may be used too (2).

It is however necessary that these measures are activated by the national authorities. For measure 17, the farmer must also have previously taken out an insurance policy or joined a mutual fund covering the catastrophic event.

⋅1∙ M05 ‘Restoring agricultural production potential damaged by natural disasters and catastrophic events and introducing appropriate prevention measures’, Art. 18

Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013.

⋅2∙ M17 ‘Risk management through (i) crop, animal and plant insurance, (ii) mutual funds for adverse climatic events, animal and plant diseases, pest infestations and

environmental incidents, and (iii) income stabilisation tool’, Art. 36-39a regulation (EU) No 1305/2013.