The Agriculture Ministry says its notification is being reviewed in Brussels and that it is answering the Commission’s questions. The outstanding decision matters to farmers preparing insurance for autumn sowing: the ministry has not yet been able to confirm when policies with the subsidy can be taken out.
Insurers are adapting their products to the new rules while the approval process continues. The ministry says the budget allocation is secured, but that alone does not authorize the payments; the Commission’s decision is needed to give both insurers and farmers certainty that the subsidy will not later have to be repaid.
The issue was raised at a parliamentary agriculture committee as farmers face the seasonal deadline for protecting crops. The ministry plans another meeting with the insurance sector next week. The Commission has not, according to the ministry’s account, issued a final decision.