Background information

The aim of the measure is the recovering and restoration of the burnt agricultural land to its previous condition, as well as improving bio-diversity and preventing abandonment of the burnt land caused by the uncontrolled fires of August and September 2023, a period with particularly high temperatures, in certain communities of the Limassol district. The measure was approved by the Cabinet after the approval of the Office of the Commissioner for State Aid Control and is based on the Regulation (EU) 2022/2472 of the Commission (14 December 2022).

Content of measure

The measure covers the complete or partial damages in materials, means and agricultural infrastructure falling under the primary agricultural production. It provides financial support to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) taking restoration action on the burnt land to its previous condition in the same production domain.

Beneficiaries are SMEs, natural or legal persons governed by private law and owners or coordinators of affected land in the communities of Agios Mamas, Kalo Chorio, Pelendri, Paramitha, Limnatis, Korfi, Apesia, Gerasa, Apsiou, Fasoula, Akrounta and Koilani affected by the fires.

The eligible investments that can be covered by the measure are the ones aimed at:

• the restoration of the affected property;
• restocking of livestock;
• covering the expenses relating to agricultural and livestock machinery, agricultural equipment, agricultural tractors, plant nurseries, net gardens, irrigation systems and agriculture and livestock buildings.

For an investment to be considered eligible for aid, it must have a capacity equal to or less than that previously recorded by the Department of Agriculture. The aid intensity is 65% of the above eligible cost categories.

The total budget of the measure is €200,000 and the maximum investment that a beneficiary is able to request is €50,000. The period of implementation is for four years 2023-2027.

Use of measure

Currently, there is no information of the number of the SMEs benefited or will be benefited by the measure.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Self-employed	SMEs	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government	National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement	No involvement
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

The measure was designed by the government without the involvement of social partners. The responsible agency is the Department of Agriculture of the Ministry of Agricultural, Rural Development and the Environment which is responsible for the implementation, general monitoring and evaluation of the measure.

Views and reactions

SMEs, the rural population affected by the fires and their representative agricultural organisation as well as the community authorities all appear satisfied with the announcement of the measure. It is noted that they as well as the political parties have called the government to take immediate action for the support of affected farmers and communities after the fires.

Sectors and occupations

Sources

• 03 November 2023: Απόφαση της εφόρου κρατικών ενισχύσεων 443 (www.publicaid.gov.cy)