EU farmers and hauliers to get up to €50,000 to cover extra costs of Iran war

The EU is to subsidise up to 70% of the extra cost of fuel and fertilisers caused by the Iran war for farmers, fishing businesses and road hauliers as part of a package of emergency measures unveiled on Wednesday. Individual companies can claim up to €50,000 each between now and the end of the year with minimum paperwork, a measure the EU hopes will remove what it sees as an existential threat to hauliers and farmers. Energy-intensive industries will be able to claim up to 70% of the extra electricity cost of eligible consumption. The EU said the loosening of state aid rules was an emergency measure aimed at helping those in agriculture and fisheries, including aquaculture, as well as transport – covering road, rail and inland waterways, plus intra-EU short sea shipping. The sectors were specifically impacted because of the rising fuel and fertiliser prices, it said. No relief has been offered to airlines and airports regarding jet fuel, but potential future intervention has not been ruled out. Individual member states can configure the state aid they offer businesses according to local conditions, but small hauliers, farmers and fishers will be able to claim the fixed amount of up to €50,000 with minimal fuss. They will not, for example, need to provide receipts for fuel at petrol pumps. …