On October 2, the European Commission approved a €170 million Bulgarian state aid scheme to support farmers facing higher fuel and fertilizer prices linked to the Middle East crisis. The aid takes the form of direct grants of up to €50,000 per company and will run until December 31, 2026.
The scheme was approved under the Middle East Crisis Temporary State Aid Framework (METSAF), which the Commission adopted on April 29, 2026. The framework is intended to support the sectors most exposed to the crisis: agriculture, fisheries, transport and energy-intensive industries.
Similar schemes have been approved in recent months for companies in Portugal, Sweden, Italy, Germany, Greece and other Member States.
