Hungarian Farmers to Receive Exceptional EU Support

European Union member states on Monday endorsed a European Commission proposal to mobilize EUR 10.8 million from the agricultural reserve to support farmers in Hungary hit by heat stress in the summer of 2025.

The exceptional support may be complemented by up to 200% of national funds. The EC also allocated EUR 7.4 million in exceptional support to Bulgarian farmers and EUR 3.3 million to Estonian farmers.

The EC highlights that throughout 2025, farmers in Bulgaria, Estonia and Hungary witnessed significant damages and suffered economic losses due to adverse climatic events and natural disasters. Bulgaria faced severe drought and heatwaves from mid-June to late August, which significantly reduced sunflower and maize production. In Estonia, spring frost followed by a cold, wet and unstable growing season harmed crops such as spring wheat, barley, peas, rapeseed, potatoes and fruit and vegetables. Finally, in Hungary, extreme heat and water shortages between June and August caused major heat stress, affecting crops including sweetcorn, melons, sorghum and maize.

The national authorities must distribute this aid by September 30, 2026 and ensure that farmers are the ultimate beneficiaries. The three Member States concerned will also have to notify the Commission about the details of the measures' implementation. Details to be notified include criteria used to determine the granting of individual aid, the intended impact of the measure, the forecasts for payments broken down per month, and the level of additional support to be provided. The notification should also include the actions taken to avoid distortion of competition and overcompensation, the European Commission notes..