The European Commission has approved a Polish scheme worth about 44.7 million euros to support the corn production sector suffering from Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The scheme was approved under the State Aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework, adopted by the Commission on 9 March 2023. The programme is designed to support sectors that are key to accelerating the transition to a green economy and reducing fuel dependency.
It also extends and improves the Temporary Crisis Framework, adopted on 23 March 2022 to enable Member States to support the economy in the context of the current geopolitical crisis. It has previously been amended on 20 July 2022 and 28 October 2022.
According to the plan, the assistance consists of providing limited amounts of aid in the form of direct grants. The purpose is to support agricultural producers who have not received payment in 2022 or 2023 for corn sold to entities purchasing and trading grain.
The Commission found that the option proposed by Poland complies with the conditions of the Temporary Crisis Framework. The aid up to a maximum of 250,000 euros per beneficiary will be granted no later than December 31, 2023.
According to the Commission, the Polish scheme is necessary because it allows to eliminate serious violations in the economy of a Member State in accordance with Article 107(3)(b) of the TFEU as well as the terms of the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework.
Having determined that the scheme complies with EU state aid rules, the Commission approved the Polish initiative.
