Member states have endorsed the Commission’s proposal to mobilize €21.5 million from the agricultural reserve to support farmers in Bulgaria, Estonia and Hungary affected by adverse weather events during the 2025 growing season. They will respectively receive €7.4m, €3.3m and €10.8m of exceptional support, which can be complemented by up to 200% of national funds.
Throughout 2025, farmers in Bulgaria, Estonia and Hungary witnessed significant damages and suffered economic losses due to adverse climatic events and natural disasters. Bulgaria faced severe drought and heatwaves, which significantly reduced sunflower and maize production. In Estonia, spring frost followed by a cold, wet and unstable growing season harmed crops such as spring wheat, barley, peas, rapeseed, potatoes and fruit and vegetables. Finally, in Hungary, extreme heat and water shortages caused major heat stress, affecting crops including sweetcorn, melons, sorghum and maize.
Commissioner Hansen (pictured) said: “When droughts trouble the soil in Bulgaria and Hungary, or frost and rain ruin crops in Estonia, it’s not just fields that suffer. It’s families and the very future of our farming communities. The Commissions stands by farmers’ side in times of crises. This is why we allocate €21.5 million to three countries as support to their agricultural community. Investing in risk management and insurances is essential to deal with more frequent extreme events induced by climate change. We must act now to build a future where extreme weather doesn’t mean ruined harvests.”
More information is available in the press release.
