The Agriculture Ministry reported on Friday that the European Commission had raised the upper limit for grants as part of the State Aid Temporary Framework for the fisheries and aquaculture sector from €270,000 345,000 and from €225,000 to 290,000 in the sector of primary production.

The ministry said that under an EC communication of 18 November, the application of the State Aid Temporary Framework was extended until 30 June 2022, with the upper limits for state grants having been increased from €270,000 to 345,000 in the fisheries and aquaculture sector and from €225,000 to 290,000 in the sector of primary production.

The ministry recalls that at a meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council held in October in Luxembourg, Croatia and Hungary, with the support of 13 other EU member-states, asked the EC by a declaration to extend the State Aid Temporary Framework for the fisheries and aquaculture sector and proportionally increase the upper limits of state aid.

The justification for the request was the fact that the State Aid Temporary Framework was one of the measures that had contributed to the survival of many agricultural sectors.

Since its entry into force, 17 member countries have used the opportunity and supported various agricultural, horticultural, fisheries and aquaculture sectors in 2020 and 2021, with aid amounting to more than three billion euros.

Agriculture Minister Marija Vuckovic said the Framework, adopted during Croatia’s presidency of the EU in the first half of 2020, had helped activate national funds to help sectors affected by the coronavirus crisis.