The aim of the programme is to support producers in the fruit and vegetables sector to invest in building and equipping logistics and distribution centres, thus improving the competitiveness of the sector.

The European Commission has approved, in accordance with EU State aid rules, a Croatian scheme with a total budget of HRK 407 million to support investments in logistics and distribution centres for fruit and vegetables. The Programme will be financed by the Recovery and Resilience Facility, following a positive assessment by the Commission of Croatia’s recovery and resilience plan.

The aim of the programme is to support producers in the fruit and vegetables sector to invest in building and equipping logistics and distribution centres, thus improving the competitiveness of the sector. Improving the logistics infrastructure will strengthen the fruit and vegetable value chain, thus contributing to the development of products with higher added value. Support under the scheme will take the form of direct grants.

The programme will run until 30 June 2026. The Commission assessed the scheme on the basis of EU State aid rules, in particular the Guidelines for State aid in the agricultural and forestry sectors and in rural areas and Article 107(3)(c) of the. Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which allows Member States to support the development of certain economic activities under certain conditions. The Commission found that the scheme is necessary and appropriate to increase the productivity of the fruit and vegetables sector.

Furthermore, the Commission found that the measure is proportionate and that any negative effects on competition and trade in the EU will be limited in view of the size of the projects, the amounts of aid and the characteristics of the sector. On this basis, the Commission approved the scheme under EU State aid rules. The Commission shall assess the measures involving State aid contained in the national recovery plans in the context of the Recovery and Resilience Facility and provide guidance and support to Member States in the preparatory stages of the plans to facilitate the swift implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility.

The non-confidential version of the decision will be available under case number SA.101504 in the State aid register on the Commission’s competition website once all confidentiality issues have been resolved.

 Source