2.9 million Euro for damage after last year's frost
From left to right European Comissioner for agriculture and food Christophe Hansen and minister Mateja Čalušić. | Author Ministry of agriculture, forestry and food.
In the autumn of 2024, Agriculture Minister Mateja Čalušić submitted a request to the European Commission for EU support for frost damage that affected Slovenia between 17 April and 22 April 2024. Frost damage was suffered by 1,207 farmers across 107 municipalities on a total of 4,472.6 hectares of agricultural land. The European Commission proposed that EUR 2.9 million be provided to Slovenia to cover the damage on permanent crops. Member States voted on the proposal at the committee meeting on Thursday, 22 May 2025, and approved it unanimously.
"I thank the European Commission and Commissioner Hansen for the support shown in the form of additional financial aid to fruit growers affected by yield losses due to natural disasters. This is a sector that has had great difficulties in the last years because of weather and therefore needs both Slovenian and European support," said Mateja Čalušić, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food..
"Farmers should not have to face the consequences of natural disasters alone. I am sure the support will reach them quickly, help them restore their production potential and get back on their feet," said Christophe Hansen, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food.
Farmers eligible for the aid will be those who suffered between 30% up to and including 79% of damage on their crops. The farmers whose crops were damaged 80% or more will receive aid from the national budget reserve:
- under the programme for remedying damage in agriculture because of frost between 17 April and 22 April 2024, amounting to EUR 3.5 million. The aid will be provided to those farms whose agricultural crops were damaged 80% or more, and
- under the decree on financial aid for remedying damage in agriculture because of frost in 2024, amounting to EUR 420,000. This aid will be provided to farms whose agricultural crops were completely destroyed (100% damage).
The aid is expected to be paid out to farmers by 31 December 2025.
Agriculture Minister Čalušić and Commissioner Hansen also discussed the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Minister Čalušić called for a stable and predictable European agricultural policy also in the future, including the needed financing. She welcomed the European Commission’s proposal for simplifications of the CAP, while also urging the Commissioner to simplify the Deforestation Regulation to reduce red tape for European farmers and forest owners.