With several regions struggling with the impact of heavy rainfalls and crops in many parts of Europe still affected by severe drought, Brussels has taken steps to soften the blow for the fruit, vegetable, and wine sector. To alleviate the situation, a “flexibility package” introduced by the Commission on 8 August is set to allow member states and farmers more leeway within EU programmes for the sector until the end of the year. The package allows for certain derogations both in the framework of the national strategic plans, through which countries implement the EU’s farming subsidy programme and the so-called Common Market Organisation (CMO), which is the traditional farmers’ safety net in case of market crises.

Additionally, the Commission introduced derogations to the vine planting authorisation scheme to ensure that producers who were unable to put planting permissions into practice due to flooding will not lose their rights. More