Spain and Italy are expected to ask the EU for extra help  for farmers in the coming weeks in response to the most severe drought in the Mediterranean region in decades. The situation in France is also a concern.

Portugal has already asked the European Commission for early delivery to farmers of direct payments under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Italy, Portugal and Spain have also requested authorisation to provide compensation at member-state level. Copa-Cogeca, the European farmers’ association, said it was “very concerned” about the situation.

Spain estimates a 43% reduction in its average water level since October, after the lowest winter rainfall since 1947, and water levels are also low in France and Italy. Some areas have not seen rainfall since November, and freezing weather in February destroyed many fields. Crop damage caused EU wheat prices to rise to a nine-month high this week.

French concerns

France may also request aid. Yesterday (28 March), Marie Thérèse Sanchez-Schmid, a French centre-right MEP, called on the Commission to help farmers in her region of Languedoc-Roussillon.

“In the last couple of months the major drought development in Spain has crossed into southern France, and is spreading eastward along the Mediterranean coast,” said Bryce Anderson, an agricultural meteorologist with Telvent. “That could mean dry conditions for the French corn crop this year.”

Agriculture ministers from Portugal, Spain and Italy expressed their concern to Dacian Ciolos¸, the European commissioner for agriculture, during a meeting in Brussels last week. “The Commission will use all instruments available for any member state that brings forward a justified request [for aid],” Ciolos¸ said after the meeting.

“We could bring forward direct payments to 16 October to those particular areas. Or it may be possible to allow state aid under certain circumstances, but it would have to be on a case–by-case basis.”

He said measures could also be taken under the CAP’s rural-development programme to restore production capacity.

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