On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2020/2220 as regards specific measures under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) to provide additional assistance to Member States affected by natural disasters

Committee on Budgets · Rapporteur: Hélder Sousa Silva

✦ In short Full text Procedure & committee votes

✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 4 Sept 2026

The Committee on Budgets gives its budgetary assessment of the proposal to amend the EAFRD regulation to help Member States hit by natural disasters since 1 January 2024. It notes the proposal is budget neutral in commitments but has implications, and concludes it is compatible with the Rules of Procedure.¶¶¶ The committee welcomes the financial support for farmers, foresters and SMEs, but regrets the lack of a legislative financial statement and calls for more resources for the EU Solidarity Fund and administrative simplification.¶¶¶

Committee position. The Committee on Budgets concludes that the proposal is compatible with the elements referred to in Rule 58(3) of the Rules of Procedure.¶

Key points

Notes the Commission claims the proposal is overall budget neutral in terms of commitments, but observes a series of budgetary implications.¶
Recalls Parliament's repeated calls for more resources for the EU Solidarity Fund and for administrative simplification to allow swift deployment of funds and use of lump sums.¶
Recalls criticism of using previously planned funding as an emergency response tool, but acknowledges the proposal offers a pragmatic solution for rapid response.¶
Acknowledges that flexibility measures can be justified given slow take-up of rural development funds and implementation rates below 75% on several lines.¶
Regrets the absence of a legislative financial statement and requests the Commission provide information on payment profile implications and consequences for national contributions.¶
Welcomes financial support for farmers, foresters and SMEs affected by natural disasters, and stresses the need for additional support for subsistence agriculture and low-income farmers.¶
Recalls that a 100% EU co-financing rate raises questions but is justifiable for disaster relief; highlights the need to consult affected stakeholders.¶
Recalls that voluntary reduction of the non-regression threshold could lower expenditure counted against mainstreaming targets, but acknowledges the need for such flexibility.¶
Observes that the measure also aims to prevent imminent de-commitments of 2021 and 2022 commitments, with consequences for the Cascade mechanism.¶
Considers that in the longer term, more genuine budgetary flexibility should allow transfers to a dedicated expenditure instrument better suited to emergency response.¶

Who is affected

Farmers, forest holders and small and medium-sized enterprises affected by natural disasters since 1 January 2024, who may receive lump sum payments of up to EUR 42 000.¶
Member States with EAFRD commitments at risk of de-commitment under the N+3 rule, as of October 2024.¶

Figures and deadlines

EUR 42 000 per beneficiary as the maximum lump sum payment.¶
Implementation rates of less than 75 % on several lines.¶

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