Italy to the EU, 'extend targeted CAP aid also to fuel price increases'

The European Commission should present a proposal to "extend" the exceptional aid of the "European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)" also to "the increase in fuel costs borne by farmers" due to the crisis in the Middle East. This is the request that Italy - supported by the Czech Republic, Romania and Slovakia - will bring to the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Luxembourg tomorrow, promoting an informal discussion between its European counterparts.

A preparatory document notes that "energy prices, in particular those of fuels used in agriculture, remain under strong pressure, with negative consequences on the profitability of agricultural businesses".

Hence the request to also extend the "exceptional and temporary" aid from the EAFRD launched in July to support farmers from the increase in fertilizer costs to agricultural fuels. “This would ensure a more comprehensive and flexible response to the consequences of the crisis,” it says.