EU aid for German farmers affected by foot-and-mouth restrictions

German farmers will be able to apply to a fund worth €4.8m to compensate them for income losses due to the foot-and-mouth disease restrictions that were put in place earlier this year.

On 10 January, Germany confirmed that three water buffalo from a herd of 14 tested positive for the disease. No other livestock were found with the disease.

It was the first outbreak of the highly contagious disease in Europe for 14 years.

In order to contain the spread of the disease, German authorities put in place a movement ban for certain livestock across the state of Brandenburg.

“These emergency measures, though necessary, had significant economic repercussions for neighbouring livestock farmers,” the European Commission said.

Farmers in the region experienced income losses due to undelivered milk and reduced commercial value of pigs, losses that are not covered under other existing EU compensation mechanisms.

Further outbreaks of foot-and-mouth were confirmed in Hungary and Slovakia in March, with thousands of animals culled. These outbreaks have since been contained.

Natural disasters

The Commission has also approved €7.4m in aid for farmers in Czechia and €2.9m for Slovenia farmers affected by adverse weather.

In September 2024, Czechia experienced torrential rainfall, strong winds and flooding which affected the production of arable crops, as well as fruit and vegetables.

In Slovenia, spring frost during the second half of April 2024 affected the production of certain fruits and vegetables, along with vineyards. Governments in both countries can match the funding by up to 200%.

Read more

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