The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food asked the European Commission (EC) for 327 million euros in funds to finance the producer's fruit and operational programs in 2022, i.e. 4.2% more than in 2021 and 22% above the average in the last 8 years.
34 million euro of this amount, i.e. more than 10% of the total, will be allocated to the prevention and management of market crises. The measures for this concept decreased by 2% over 2021 but increased by 34% compared to the average of the last 8 years.
This aid will benefit 465 producer organizations in 15 autonomous communities. Andalusia, Murcia, the Valencian Community, Catalonia, Aragon, Navarra, and Extremadura stand out in terms of the value of the marketed products and consequently of the aid requested.
According to the latest data available, Spain is the first member state by execution of operational programs, with more than 30% of the total of the European Union (EU), followed by Italy. It should be noted that, in Spain, this aid has followed an upward trend since its creation in 1997.
The request made to the Commission responds to the forecast that is made at the beginning of each year based on the operational programs approved by the autonomous communities. The EU usually gives the country 80% to 85% of the aid they request.
Aid scheme in the fruit and vegetable sector
By virtue of this regime, the producer organizations that create an operating fund have the possibility of accessing aid to carry out various actions within the framework of the multi-annual operational programs. The aid can be used for the improvement of production and marketing infrastructures, quality and environment, research, training and advice, and prevention and management of market crises, among other actions.
These operating funds are thus made up of the EU's aid and the contributions from the producer organizations or their members and are used to finance the activities.
The EU can aid producer organizations with 50% of the cost of the actions carried out (60% in certain cases), with a 4.1% limit of the value of the marketed production, which can be raised to 4.6% in the case of crisis prevention and management actions.