Spain requests emergency funds from EU
The Spanish authorities have asked the European Commission for funds from the emergency agricultural reserve, as the country needs to cope with the consequences of extreme water shortages – as reported by El Pais
Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Industry Luis Planas noted that the situation in the country, which arose as a result of the drought, is very serious – as was written by him in a letter sent to the European Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski.
“We cannot cope with the consequences of the drought solely at the expense of national funds,” the Spanish Minister stressed.
The message states that low rainfall and high temperatures have an extremely negative impact on the agricultural sector, as well as its income. According to Luis Planas, in the future this will lead to a decrease in production and an increase in costs.
According to the publication, half of the €456m planned for this year’s European reserve for agriculture has already been used up. These funds went to help the states of Eastern Europe, which suffered from the crisis associated with Ukrainian grain.
“We are concerned about the EC’s statements about the next package from this reserve for only some member states. It would be impossible for our farmers to understand this,” stated Luis Planas.
Earlier it was reported in Spain that the country’s reservoirs are only 50 percent full. Moreover, April 2023 was the driest since the relevant observations were made, i.e., in more than 60 years. In turn, the State Meteorological Agency of Spain warned of the upcoming record for April, almost 40-degree heat.
