The European Commission has approved a €285 million Italian State aid scheme to support agricultural, fishing and aquaculture companies facing higher fuel and fertilizer prices linked to the Middle East crisis. According to the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, the scheme was approved under the Middle East Crisis Temporary State Aid Framework (METSAF), adopted by the Commission in April 2026, and will run until December 31, 2026. The aid is intended to mitigate the impact of rising agricultural fuel and fertilizer prices, as well as fishery and aquaculture fuel prices. The support will take the form of direct grants and tax advantages. For the agricultural sector, the amount will be determined on the basis of estimated fuel and fertilizer consumption.
In other news, the European Commission has published Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1826, extending the approval periods of the following active substances: