The European Commission has approved a Romanian State aid scheme of €52 million (RON 277 million) to help cattle farmers facing higher fuel and fertiliser costs due to the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. This scheme falls under the Middle East Crisis Temporary State Aid Framework (METSAF), which the Commission adopted on 29 April, 2026.
The Romanian government has notified the Commission of this initiative, which seeks to support businesses operating in the cattle farming sector. The programme will remain in effect until 31 December 2026, with the primary objective of mitigating the financial impact of rising agricultural fuel and fertiliser prices.
Assistance will be provided as direct grants, with a maximum allocation of €50,000 per eligible company. The Commission assessed the scheme in accordance with EU State aid regulations, particularly Article 107(3)(c) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, which permits Member States to promote certain economic activities under specified conditions, as well as Sections 1 and 2.1 of the METSAF.
The Commission has confirmed that the scheme complies with the conditions set out in the METSAF. Specifically, the aid will be disbursed based on a clearly defined budget and is intended as a temporary measure to support the development of companies engaged in the primary production of agricultural products.
The Commission has concluded that the scheme is necessary, appropriate, and proportionate to facilitate economic activity without unduly disrupting trading conditions in a manner contrary to the common interest. Accordingly, the Romanian aid scheme has been officially approved under EU State aid regulations.
